New doctors must first practice in the public system: CAQ government [Video]

Quebec Health Minister Christian Dubé said on Sunday he wants to introduce a bill that would require new family doctors and specialists trained in the province to practice in the public system for the first few years of their careers.

He did not specify the exact duration of this requirement.

According to the ministry, there is an upward trend of physicians trained in the public network opting for private practice.

Of the 22,479 physicians practicing in Quebec, 775 work exclusively in the private sector, representing an increase of 70 per cent since 2020, according to figures released by the Health Ministry.

“This trend is particularly significant among new doctors,” states a press release from the Health Minister’s office, though it did not provide any statistics. “While too many Quebecers are still waiting to be taken care of, too many doctors are deciding, early in their careers, to leave Quebec’s public …