The Quebec Association of General Practitioners Challenges Government Over Pay Dispute
The Quebec Association of General Practitioners, known as FMOQ, has taken legal action against the Quebec Ministry of Health and Social Services in a bid to address concerns over payment negotiations. In a court filing, FMOQ claims that the government has not acted in good faith during discussions on renewing the agreement with family doctors.
Since August 2024, the government has taken a firm stance in negotiations, with the most recent agreement expiring on March 31, 2023. FMOQ has raised concerns about Bill 106, which could impact family doctors by linking up to 25% of their pay to performance metrics. The association argues that this could result in shorter and less personalized patient consultations as doctors strive to meet government-set quotas.
Furthermore, FMOQ alleges that appointments may become scarce, especially for healthy individuals or those with minor ailments. They criticize Premier François Legault and Health Minister Christian Dubé for allegedly spreading misinformation and denigrating family doctors, impeding efforts to enhance public access to primary care.
On a related note, the Quebec Association of General Practitioners, along with the Quebec Association of Specialist Doctors, opposes the payment structure outlined in Bill 106, which also affects specialist doctors. The FMSQ has announced upcoming pressure tactics, including a halt to medical-administrative meetings and a temporary cessation of teaching pre-graduate medical students.
