Quebec family doctors also threaten to stop teaching students

After medical specialists pressure tactics, family doctors are also now adopting them, deploring the government’s approach, which they consider unconstructive, in its negotiations to renew the framework agreement. 

The Federation of General Practitioners of Quebec (FMOQ) announced Tuesday the “progressive initiation of pressure tactics.” Effective immediately, family doctors are being asked to stop participating in medical-administrative activities that do not directly impact patients. 

In this sense, interprofessional meetings related to direct patient care will continue to take place and patient service forms (SAAQ, CNESST) will be completed properly. 

A meeting between the FMOQ and the government is scheduled for Wednesday. “If this meeting does not demonstrate genuine good faith and proves unsuccessful, the FMOQ will then consider asking family physicians to cease all teaching and supervision activities with medical students at the preclinical and externship levels,” the FMOQ stated in a press release. 

The document does not address Bill 106, which would link up to 25 per cent of doctors’ compensation to performance indicators, but this piece of legislation is closely linked to the renegotiation of the framework agreement with doctors, which expired on March 31, 2023.

Health Minister Christian Dubé has repeatedly reiterated that withdrawing Bill 106 is out of the question, but he has said he is open to amendments. 

Last week, the Fédération des médecins spécialistes du Québec (FMSQ) announced that specialists would stop teaching undergraduate medical students, continuing to teach residents for the time being.

The FMOQ has also asked family doctors not to compensate for the absences of specialist doctors in teaching activities following the pressure tactics taken by the FMSQ.

Last Friday, the FMOQ filed a legal action against the Ministry of Health and Social Services asking the Superior Court of Quebec to “declare that the government party failed in its duty of good faith during the negotiations surrounding the renewal of the agreement” with general practitioners, according to the request filed in court. 

The FMOQ also maintains the same position regarding the Digital Health Record (DSN) “as well as any medical-administrative project or activity without planned or guaranteed remuneration.” It reminds its members to refuse to participate in it for the time being.

—The Canadian Press’s health coverage is supported by a partnership with the Canadian Medical Association. The Canadian Press is solely responsible for this journalistic content.

–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews