2023-12-01 05:00:00
A French neurologist who wants to work in Quebec is unable to be hired in a hospital despite 28 vacant positions in this specialty and more than 50,000 patients waiting for care.
“It doesn’t work out, time passes. […] It’s still incredible to reach a situation like that,” laments Dr. Christophe Couratier.
Of French origin, this doctor specializing in neurology has been stuck in an impasse for three years. In 2015, he moved to Quebec with his family and was hired at Pierre-Le Gardeur hospital in Terrebonne. He followed around 4,000 Quebecers.
Opportunity in Guadeloupe
“My patients liked me,” swears the 58-year-old man, who specializes in certain illnesses (Parkinson’s, migraine, etc.).
The College of Physicians of Quebec (CMQ) provides that professionals from abroad must work five years with a restrictive permit before obtaining a “regular” permit.
In 2019, following completing four out of five years, the 58-year-old doctor had an opportunity in a Parkinson’s center of expertise in Guadeloupe and left to work there.
In fact, the doctor had understood from his discussions with the CMQ that he might complete his fifth year of restrictive license abroad. A year later, however, his dream of returning to Quebec turned into a nightmare.
“When I asked if I might come back, they told me: We will have to do another year. […] I was a little disappointed, it was not the information that I had understood,” underlines the doctor, whom I met last October during a visit to Montreal.
It has now been three years since the neurologist has been unable to be hired in Quebec. Gaspésie, Montérégie, Laurentides, Montreal: He says he applied for vacant positions in a dozen establishments. He was interviewed only once, and was not hired.
“I am told that there is no need,” laments the permanent resident of Canada, who still works in Guadeloupe.
Unexplained difficulties
Currently, 28 positions are vacant in neurology, show data from the Ministry of Health and Social Services. Also, 54,396 Quebecers are waiting for a neurology consultation, of which 31,749 are late.
In a letter sent to Dr. Couratier’s lawyer in April 2023, the CMQ writes that it cannot “explain the difficulties experienced by your client in finding a position in an establishment, while his professional file is “blank”, that is- that is to say without measure or sanction, and that neurology seems to be a sector of practice in shortage.
To accommodate the doctor, the College waived the 24-month time limit for completing the five years of a restrictive license.
“It’s absurd. […] There is somewhere where things are blocked, and I don’t know where,” said his lawyer, Me Benoit Bénéteau, who sent the file to the Minister of Health recently.
Asked whether former colleagues might give him bad press, Dr. Couratier believes it is a possibility, but that he has no information on this subject.
Furthermore, the CMQ requires that Dr. Couratier complete his fifth year in a hospital. Even though he received two favorable hiring responses at the clinic, he cannot work there.
Retake the exam?
The only other option available to Dr. Couratier would be to retake the Royal College of Physicians of Canada exam. An avenue that he rules out, since this test requires a lot of preparation and would require him to stop working for a year, says his lawyer.
Despite everything, Dr. Couratier remains hopeful of being hired in Quebec and of joining one of his children, who is studying in Montreal.
“I was well settled, everything was good,” he laments. We have become impatient, it’s still been three years.”
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