Health Minister: New physicians who get training in Quebec will need to work in the province's public system
Quebec estimates that training a doctor, including residency, costs between $435,000 and $790,000.
Newly trained doctors from Quebec universities will be required to spend their initial years practicing within Quebec's public healthcare system.
Health Minister Christian Dubé warned of "consequences" for those wishing to enter private practice, relocate to another province, or work abroad immediately after completing their studies in Quebec.
Dubé made this statement on Monday morning during an interview with French-language radio station 98.5 FM.
On Sunday, Dubé announced plans to introduce a bill mandating that new family doctors and specialists trained in Quebec practice in the public sector for a set period following graduation.
The rationale behind this proposal, according to the CAQ government, is that since Quebec funds medical education, the public should have access to the "care it pays for."
Dubé’s aim is for new doctors to remain in the public system for "a few years" rather than moving directly to the private sector or outside Quebec once they complete their training.
For instance, an Ontario resident studying at McGill University would be required to practice in Quebec temporarily before returning to Ontario, if they choose to do so.
Dubé specified that non-compliance would lead to "consequences," although what those entail will be outlined in the forthcoming bill. The exact duration of this mandatory public service has yet to be determined, with further details expected when the bill is tabled by the end of the current parliamentary session for study in the spring.
The concept of requiring Quebec-trained doctors to commit some time to the public healthcare system has been discussed for years, according to Dubé, who said it’s time to implement it.
"Quebecers, looking at this objectively, can see the logic. Society invests a significant amount in training doctors, so it seems natural that these doctors, upon finishing their studies, would give back to the public system," Dubé stated.
Dubé’s comments come as the College of Physicians has voiced concerns about the growth of private healthcare, urging an immediate halt to its expansion.
Quebec estimates that training a doctor, including residency, costs between $435,000 and $790,000. The government has reported a rising trend in doctors moving to the private sector, with the number of doctors working solely in private practice increasing by 70 percent since 2020.
Dubé noted that retaining new doctors in the public network is just one of several planned measures.
