Quebec adds 377 doctors in one year, majority are specialists

The number of physicians continues to grow in Quebec, with twice as many new specialists as family doctors. Overall, there are 377 more practicing physicians in the province than on December 31, 2023.

The most recent data on medical staff from the Collège des médecins du Québec (CMQ), published Tuesday, shows 26,396 physicians registered on the order’s roll as of December 31, 2024. Over four years, this represents an increase of 1,821 physicians.

The Abitibi-Témiscamingue region is the one that has seen the most doctors leave, namely six family doctors, one specialist and five doctors with a restrictive permit. These permits, issued by the CMQ, allow an internationally qualified doctor to perform certain professional acts.

The Chaudière-Appalaches and Gaspésie—Îles-de-la-Madeleine regions each lost eight family doctors, but gained 11 and four specialist doctors respectively.

The Outaouais lost six family doctors and three specialists, but gained 10 doctors with a restrictive permit.

The areas with the most gains in medical staff are Montreal (183 doctors), Montérégie (70 doctors), the Capitale-Nationale (54 doctors) and the Laurentians (30 doctors).

New physicians registered on the Order’s roll may practice in the public or private sector. According to the president of the Confédération des syndicats nationaux (CSN), Caroline Senneville, it is necessary to ensure that these doctors work in the public health system. In a written statement, she stressed that it is necessary to ensure that they “do not let themselves be tempted by the private sector and the lure of profit.”

“We have to stop the bleeding,” she adds. No profit on the disease, that’s what must guide us. The government must take its responsibilities and curb disaffiliation.”

More and more doctors are women

Women continue to be more numerous in the medical profession in Quebec. Of the 377 new doctors, 305 are women.

Of practicing physicians in the province, 55 per cent are women.

Of the approximately 22,800 active physicians, nearly 47 per cent are family physicians and 51.5 per cent are specialist physicians (1.7 per cent have a restrictive license). These figures are similar to data from recent years.

Also of note, 425 doctors practice outside Quebec, around 30 fewer than last year.

When we look at the place of graduation of medical students, the vast majority (86 per cent) of doctors obtained their diploma in Quebec, 3.5 per cent in another Canadian province, the rest in another country.

On the other hand, in one year, barely 50 doctors have been added to the inactive status of the order’s table, which includes, among others, doctors on parental leave, on sabbatical, on sick leave or retired.

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–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews