Gatan Barrette defends plan to set patient quota for doctors

Health Minister Gatan Barrette is defending legislation that would force doctors to see more patients.

Barrette wants to impose quotas on doctors as part of a controversial bill at the National Assembly in Quebec City. If they don't meet them, doctors will get a pay cut.

We have to set in place a set of rules that will make sure that we have proper organization of services,so the public has services," Barrette said Tuesday, on his way into the first day of hearings for the bill.

• New Quebec health bill to restrict IVF treatments, impose quotas for family doctors
• ANALYSIS:Gatan Barrettes health care revolution: what you need to know

The Opposition Parti Qubcois said the bill doesnt include enough information.

"We want the rules of this new bill, PQ Health Critic DianeLamarresaid.

We need transparency.

The Quebec Patients' Committeeagrees with the bill and was the first to present at Tuesdays hearings.

Pierre Blain, the group'sdirector general, said there are a lot of doctors working part timeand there should be more working fulltime.

This committee will hear from about two dozen health groups including doctors over the next few weeks.