Medical clinic closures | “Adjustments” to law 2 are still possible, argues Dubé
(Quebec) Faced with the imminent closure of medical clinics, the Minister of Health asks doctors to “make their decision” once “solutions” are identified at the negotiating table with family doctors.
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“Before saying that they are going to close […]there remains a lot of information to give to our doctors, to our managers, as much for the [Groupe de médecine familiale] only for agreements. The Treasury Board is currently working to have discussions with the [Fédération des médecins omnipraticiens du Québec] », Briefly explained Christian Dubé on Wednesday.
The Minister of Health was reacting to the announced closure of dozens of family medicine clinics due to the adoption under a gag order of Law 2, which changes the method of remuneration of doctors. According to a census of Montreal Journalthere would be at least 40. Clinics are seeing doctors retire early and others are experiencing the effects of the law on their business model.
The Association of General Practitioners of Montreal (AMOM) sounded the alarm on Tuesday: “Law 2 makes GMFs financially unviable. The result is now imminent: for the first time, several GMFs are considering simultaneous closure. “It’s a signal of network collapse.” This endangers “access to care for more than 415,000 patients” in Montreal alone.
“I remind you that there is a period provided for in the law to make adjustments. We are still in this situation,” said Mr. Dubé. Adopted on October 25, Law 2 must come into force on October 1is January. In the meantime, Quebec hopes to find common ground with the FMOQ. However, negotiations have only just resumed with the president of the Treasury Board, France-Élaine Duranceau.
“We have always said that the law could be improved. That’s why there is a 60-day mechanism. Let’s let people work and then I think they will find solutions. I have excessive confidence in Mme Duranceau and his team. They have experience. The team of [la négociatrice en chef pour le gouvernement, Édith] Lapointe does a very good job,” adds Mr. Dubé.
The FMOQ agreed to return to the negotiating table after the personal intervention of Prime Minister François Legault, as the federation requested. Minister Dubé still refuses to see this as a disavowal.
