The Quebec government is temporarily halting certain aspects of Bill 2 in an effort to encourage doctors’ federations upset with the legislation to engage in negotiations. While changes to the method of doctors’ compensation are confirmed, Premier François Legault expressed a willingness to open discussions with the two federations. This decision to pause portions of the law, announced by Health Minister Christian Dubé and Treasury Board President France-Élaine Duranceau, comes as the federations representing Quebec’s general practitioners, medical specialists, and medical students have initiated legal challenges against Bill 2 and filed a stay of execution.
The Fédération médicale étudiante du Québec (FMEQ) was the first to appear in court on Tuesday. Concerned by the doctors’ recent reactions, Duranceau emphasized the shared objective of reforming the doctors’ remuneration system.
For the time being, Quebec will maintain the premium that specialized doctors receive when referred a patient by a family doctor, a provision slated for removal under the new law. Additionally, the funds allocated for office expenses to the 30% of doctors in family medicine groups (FMGs) will continue to be paid directly to the doctors, rather than being transferred to the FMGs as initially outlined in the legislation.
The passing of Bill 2 by invoking closure by the CAQ introduces fines of up to $500,000 per day for groups of physicians engaging in coordinated actions against government policies. The federations representing family doctors and medical specialists had resorted to pressure tactics, such as refusing to teach medical students, to oppose the proposed remuneration system.
Under the altered law, a portion of doctors’ compensation will be tied to performance targets, including the number of patients they care for, particularly those considered vulnerable.
The Fédération des médecins omnipraticiens du Québec (FMOQ) released a statement on social media outlining its unwillingness to resume discussions with the Coalition Avenir Québec government unless Bill 2 is entirely suspended. The federation expressed concerns over the creation of performance indicators that could lead to what they describe as “fast-food” medicine and the government’s patient vulnerability assessment system and lack of guaranteed access to resources, which are hindering their return to negotiations.