Quebec wants to make it harder for doctors to go from public to private system

The Coalition Avenir Québec government is proposing new restrictions for physicians looking to transition from the public to the private health system. However, an opposition MNA has criticized the proposal, stating that it lacks substance.

Late last year, the CAQ introduced a bill that would require physicians to work in the public system for at least five years after graduating. Now, the government is suggesting amendments that would apply to all physicians, not just new ones. Health Minister Christian Dubé believes that the current rules make it too easy for doctors to move between the public and private sectors, with a simple 30-day notice to the RAMQ allowing them to do so.

Dubé has now proposed amendments to Bill 83, which was initially focused on new doctors. These changes would mandate that physicians obtain formal approval from Santé Québec, a new provincial Crown corporation overseeing the health system, before switching from the public to private sector. The approval process would consider factors such as the number of available doctors in a region, the potential negative impact on patients, and the public network’s need for the doctor in that area.

The province’s College of Physicians has advocated for an outright ban on doctors leaving the public system, but Dubé believes in maintaining flexibility as he sees the private sector as complementary to the public system. Vincent Marissal, an MNA with Québec Solidaire, has criticized Dubé for not taking a stronger stance and simply forbidding doctors from leaving the public system.

The proposed amendments have sparked debate, with Marissal accusing Dubé of transferring responsibility to Santé Québec rather than exercising his existing power to limit doctor movements between sectors. The government’s office has highlighted a significant increase in the number of doctors practicing in the private sector, with fines ranging from $20,000 to $100,000 per day for new doctors who leave the public system within the first five years after graduating.

The bill and its amendments were set to be reviewed by lawmakers at the National Assembly, signaling ongoing discussions about the future of healthcare in Quebec. The balance between the public and private systems remains a contentious issue, with stakeholders advocating for measures that prioritize patient care and address the challenges faced by the healthcare system.