Quebec’s family physicians have overwhelmingly approved a new agreement aimed at encouraging them to take on an additional 500,000 patients by June of next year. This decision follows extensive negotiations between the doctors and the Coalition Avenir Québec government, which introduced Bill 2, a contentious legislation that proposed linking a portion of doctors’ compensation to performance metrics.
The legislation faced strong opposition from doctors, with many family practitioners and clinics threatening closure unless changes were made. Premier François Legault intervened earlier this month, leading to a tentative agreement that dialed back several key provisions of Bill 2.
The revised deal eliminates the proposal to categorize patients based on vulnerability levels using a color-coded system. It also eliminates any penalties for non-compliance with the reforms. Instead of mandating family doctor groups (GMFs) to take on 1.2 million orphaned patients by 2027, the agreement now focuses on voluntarily accepting 500,000 new patients by June, with potential financial incentives for reaching this goal but no penalties for falling short.
France-Élaine Duranceau, Quebec’s treasury board president, praised the agreement as a “win-win” situation, highlighting the positive impact of accommodating an additional 500,000 patients by general practitioners. The Fédération des médecins omnipraticiens du Québec (FMOQ), the union representing family doctors, emphasized that the deal signifies a commitment to enhancing primary care services.
The agreement includes adjustments to the payment structure, increased funding for telemedicine, and support for clinics reliant on the GMF program. It aims to enable family physicians to focus on delivering high-quality care to their patients in Quebec. Christian Dubé, the former health minister of Quebec, resigned, citing concerns that the revised deal represents a step back from the original objectives outlined in Bill 2.
