Quebec doctors criticize registry connecting patients to physicians

Quebec doctors are experiencing problems with the province's new tool to connect patients with family physicians.

The online database went into effectoneweek ago but some doctors say they are being matched with patients who live too far away or who are located inother regions.

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"Doctors who work in Montreal are being referred to patients in St-Eustache, doctors onMontreal'sSouth Shore are being referred to patients in downtown Montreal,"Louis Godin, the president ofQuebec's federation of general practitioners said.

"We've had several similar situations."

Dr. Vincent Demerssays when he logged into the registry, he was matched with patients in different towns far from his base in Quebec City.

He sayspatients need access tophysicians who are nearby.

"For the patients, we're not providing a service if we make them travel 30 kilometres to see their doctor," Demers told Radio-Canada.

'It's not very complicated'

Health MinisterGatanBarrette admits there are a few bugs to fix but that overall the tool works well.

"The doctor simply has to go down the list. It's a drop down list," Barrette said."It's not very complicated so I don't see the problem."

Godindisagrees and says the tool may have been launched too early.

"Concerning a plan of functionality, we weren't really ready to launch this database," Godin told Radio-Canada.

Over 60,000 people have added their names to the online database, according to Barrette.

Under Bill 20, Barrette promised that85 per cent ofQuebecerswillhave family doctors byDec. 31, 2017.