900,000 Quebecers risk losing family doctor
Posted May 29, 2024 5:27 pm.
Last Updated May 29, 2024 7:03 pm.
An agreement between the Quebec government and family doctors to take on new patients expires May 31, and it could have significant impacts on the health system in the province.
If Quebec’s agreement with family doctors is not renewed, some 900,000 Quebecers could once again be without a family doctor.
It would have a major impact on emergency room wait times, a family doctor warns.
“If it doesn’t continue, I find there is evidence that if patients are not seen, they will just have more ER visits for things,” said Dr. Ya Ning Gao, a family doctor in Montreal since 2015.
BACKGROUND: Quebec health minster softens tone with family doctors on GAP renewal
Gao says the most common avoidable ER visits are for bronchitis, urinary tract infections, pneumonias and asthma attacks.
“So basically, the ER would be full of patients who could have gone to see their GP (general practitioner), but couldn’t reach them,” she said.
The existing agreement sees family medicine groups (FMG) take on patients who had previously been without a doctor. It also offers family doctors a $120 per year bonus for each new patient registered at their clinic. Those at risk of losing their family doctor are registered as part of the deal.
The program is part of the Guichet d’acces à la première ligne (GAP), or the Primary Care Access Point in English.
Gao believes the bonus from the Quebec government is important because it gives family doctors an incentive to stay in family medicine because there are fewer doctors attracted to that position.
“It does apply to my younger colleagues who are graduating, who are taking on new patients,” Gao said. “Somehow, there needs to be some incentive for patients to be seen, to be taken as new patients.”
On Tuesday, Quebec Health Minister Christian Dubé said the current system that helps patients without a doctor find one would remain in place, but he would not confirm if the bonus for doctors would continue. Nothing is official until an agreement is reached.
“I definitely think it should be renewed because the Groupes de médecine familiale is a great thing,” said Montrealer Edith Simard. “It’s a great idea for people to have access to a doctor if you cannot have your own family doctor.”
“I think it is kind of a little ridiculous,” added Eric Goldner, who does not have a family doctor. “I think the system works well with that extra payment for the doctors and now they want to discontinue it. I’m sure they can find money. If they can find money to bring the hockey team to Quebec (L.A. Kings to Quebec City), they can certainly find money to subsidize doctors who are taking other patients on.”
