Quebec's New Bill Forces Doctors to Practice Locally After Training
- The Quebec government intends to enforce new regulations for physicians in training.
- Health Minister Christian Dubé highlighted a significant rise in doctors opting for private practice.
- The proposed legislation aims to retain a sufficient number of healthcare providers in the public system.
On November 4, 2024, Quebec's government announced a strategy to obligate newly trained doctors to work within the province's public health-care system. Health Minister Christian Dubé revealed plans to table legislation that would enforce this requirement for both family physicians and specialists in order to counter a growing trend of new doctors moving to private practice or leaving the province. This measure comes in response to an alarming 70 percent surge in private system practitioners since 2020, particularly among those recently graduated. Although the plan aims to ensure more healthcare providers are available in the public system, details regarding the specific duration of these restrictions and the potential penalties for non-compliance remain undisclosed. The move is fueled by the province's investment in medical training, which can cost between $435,000 and $790,000 per doctor, and demonstrates the government's commitment to retaining its healthcare workforce amid rising concerns about healthcare accessibility and affordability.