Quebec family doctors won't have to meet patient quotas

QuebecHealth Minister GatanBarrettehas made a deal with theprovince'sfederation of general practitionersin an effortto improve access to family doctors.

Barrettewill drop the idea of imposing a patient quota, but doctors will have to find a way to make sure 85 per cent ofQuebecershave a family physician by the end of 2017.

• Quebec doctors try to sellGatanBarrette on Bill 20 alternatives
• Download the text of Bill 20 here
• Bill 20 alternatives proposed by Quebec family doctors

Barrette called the tentative agreement between theFdration des mdecins omnipraticiens du Qubec(FMOQ)and the health ministry a"historic moment in the evolution of our healthcare system."

'My objective to me as a minister is for the whole population to have access,- Health MinisterGatanBarrette

Under the new agreement, Barrette said everybody who wants a doctor will be able to get one.

"My objective to me as a minister is for the whole population to have access," he told Homerun.

"It's a strong commitment to deliver by that date."

Until now, Barrette'splan to increase access to family doctors includedrequiring general practitioners to take on a minimum number of patients.

That quota system, a controversial aspect of Bill 20, drew a lot of criticismfrom family doctors.

The new tentative agreementputs pressure on general practitioners to find their own, alternative solution.

Some physicians skeptical

Some doctors say the new agreement may eliminate the problem of a quota,but puta different type of pressure on doctors.

Dr. DominiqueHotteis not sure it will work.

"Sure, probably people will be registered to a family doctor, but I just hope that they can see him as often as they need," Hotte said.

"I wish us all good luck, because it's going to be a very hard battle."

FMOQ presidentLouis Godin said the federationwill introduce alternative measures to help guide family physicians and ensure they stay on track to meetthe 2017 target.

Godin said eliminating specific medial activities is one of the most significant changes.

For instance, most family physicians are required to work a minimum number of hours perweek at a local hospital.

Instead of fulfilling that obligation, general practitioners will be expected to take on more patients at their practice.

If the FMOQ fails to meet the 2017 target, the province could step back in and enforce the quota.

The quota system will still be imposed on specialists.

Longstanding issue

Access to family doctors has been an issue for years.

According toStatisticsCanada,24 per cent of residents were without a regular doctor as of 2012 well above the national average of 15 per cent.

MylesCharron, aMontrealer who said he's beenwithout a doctor for 15 years, said he would wait to see how it plays out.

"The promise is amazing, the results, you know, we'll wait to see," he said.

"But if they actually deliver, of course it would be phenomenal."