Quebec College of Physicians urgently calls for national health services plan for Nunavik

Quebec's College of Physicians is urgently calling for a plan to improve health services in the province's Far North after releasing a critical report highlighting the severe lack of access to health care in the region.

The report, signed by College president Dr. Mauril Gaudreault and published on Monday, points out the absence of basic medical equipment in Nunavik and the heavy dependence on specialists who are not permanently based in the region.

Gaudreault spent four days in Kuujjuaq, the largest community in Nunavik, last year, collecting testimonies from health-care workers, managers, and patients during a tour of the province’s health facilities. The report states that it was crucial for the College to understand why physicians in Nunavik sought assistance from the Red Cross in February 2023.

Speaking with Radio-Canada’s Tout un matin on Monday, Gaudreault expressed his shock over the conditions in the Far North, particularly highlighting the "psychological distress of caregivers and doctors" who remain resilient despite difficult working circumstances.

"I couldn't believe what I saw there," Gaudreault said. "The conditions are nothing like those found elsewhere in Quebec."

The report emphasizes that many villages lack running water, and power outages are common. It also points out that the communities are not connected by road.

Gaudreault noted that most Quebecers are likely unaware of the dire state of health care in the Far North, and he questioned whether they would accept such conditions in their own regions. "Even if all regions are struggling in the health network, this one is especially," he remarked.

Lack of Critical Medical Resources

The report outlines that patients in the Far North who require urgent medical attention are typically flown to Montreal, a process described as "almost systematic." Kuujjuaq, home to around 3,000 residents, is served by the Centre de santé Tulattavik de l'Ungava. Meanwhile, about 12,000 Inuit across 14 villages in Nunavik, a territory covering 500,000 square kilometers—one-third of Quebec’s total area—are served by the Centre de santé Inuulitsivik in Puvirnituq.

Neither of these health facilities has a 24-hour operating room or intensive care unit, and they do not offer CT scans. Accidents involving all-terrain vehicles and injuries from work or hunting are common in the region, further straining medical resources.

Due to the lack of full-time specialist physicians in northern Quebec, the small number of local doctors rely on colleagues who contribute the equivalent of "200 weeks of health care annually." The situation is worsened by a significant nursing shortage.

Proposed Solutions

The College suggests reevaluating the quotas used to determine how many doctors are sent to the region. Although northern Quebec has a smaller population, the vast territory and the unique needs of the residents—who face "significant linguistic and cultural barriers"—require more resources.

The report also addresses the issue of racism, calling for cultural safety training in health care. It highlights how colonial factors have deepened the distrust between the Inuit and medical professionals.

Quebec's Health Ministry has said it is collaborating with the federal government on a comprehensive health services plan for Nunavik, but the College insists that this plan must be completed within the government’s current mandate.

Addressing these challenges is a matter of "social responsibility," Gaudreault stressed.

Quebec Health Minister Christian Dubé did not immediately respond to requests for comment.