2023-09-02 14:37:38
After considering the possibility of forcing all future medical specialists to practice in the regions in his reform of the network, the Minister of Health, Christian Dubé, now only targets foreign students who have come to seek their training in Quebec.
A provision in Bill 15 (PL-15) “aimed at making the health and social services network more efficient” might allow the Minister to oblige students from outside the province to practice their specialty doctor in the region for a period of four years from the date of obtaining their licence.
During special consultations held last spring, the Federation of Resident Physicians of Quebec (FMRQ) strongly opposed the original version of section 392, according to which the government might reserve for itself 25% of the places in residence to which it might match the obligation to “sign an undertaking, accompanied by a penalty clause, where applicable, to practice for a maximum period of four years in the region or for the establishment determined by the Minister”.
In its brief, the FMRQ described the provisions of section 392 as “illegal”, “discriminatory” and “morally dubious”. “to people who are still several years away from occupying the functions linked to these conditions”.
According to the typical course of a future medical specialist, he must first complete university studies lasting four to five years, then successfully complete his residency in specialized medicine lasting four to eight years. Some then add one or more additional years to perfect their knowledge with a subspecialization.
The provisions challenged by the FMRQ were nevertheless taken from the current Health Care and Social Services Actalthough these are not enforced.
Minister Christian Dubé still seems to have heard the criticisms of the FMRQ since he tabled a proposal for change among his package of 150 amendments tabled last week.
In the new version of article 392, it is no longer a question of haggling for places in residence with Quebec students. However, section 393 remains. The latter allows the government to retain the power to “require students from outside Quebec to sign, before the start of their training, an undertaking accompanied by a penalty clause, where applicable, to practice for a maximum period of four years in the region or for the establishment determined by the Minister” if they wish to pursue their career in Québec.
Although these students from elsewhere are also de facto members of the FMRQ when they begin their residency, the federation states in a statement sent to The Canadian Press “to note with great satisfaction” the modifications proposed by the Minister.
In an interview, the president of the FMRQ, Dr.r Cédric Lacombe, reiterates his opposition to any form of discrimination, but he says he accepts a form of compromise which solves the problem “for a majority of the members”.
In the opinion of the federation, the positions of medical specialists are already subject to quotas across Quebec while they are distributed according to the planning of medical staff. It is a five-year plan developed collaboratively by the ministry and physician associations.
For the FMRQ, this planning and the strict regulatory framework that accompanies it are more than enough to meet the needs of the regions without having to haggle over places in residence with the students.
The work of the Health and Human Services Committee was adjourned Tuesday following a six-day blitz of detailed study of PL-15 over the past two weeks.
We will have to wait for the resumption of the debates in order to know if the amendments will be adopted or if other modifications will be submitted.
Some 150 articles have been adopted so far and parliamentarians are in a race once morest time to adopt the imposing health reform before the end of the year.
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