Negotiations between the Quebec government and the Federation of General Practitioners of Quebec (FMOQ) are accelerating to reach an agreement on the front-line access window (GAP). Health Minister Christian Dubé says he expects a “response today” from the family doctors union.
According to the Minister of Health, “significant progress” was made during negotiations yesterday. But the outcome of these remains uncertain.
“It can go one way or the other,” said Christian Dubé during a press scrum at the Palais des congrès de Montréal, where he will deliver a speech this afternoon to the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal . “I think we agreed that this needed an answer today. »
The agreement between Quebec and the FMOQ on the GAP ended on 1er June. Since this date, family doctors are no longer entitled to a bonus of $120 when they see an orphan or a patient in collective care during a consultation.
Result: the number of medical appointments offered through the GAP has dropped drastically. According to the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MSSS), 5,841 medical consultations were available at GAP as of June 6 for the week of the 15th. Quebec usually has between 18,000 and 23,000 per week.
Patients are paying the price. According to groups of emergency doctors, more Quebecers without a family doctor are going to the emergency room because they cannot obtain a medical appointment at the GAP.
“At the moment, the emergency is unfortunately the alternative that many people are taking,” Christian Dubé admitted in the press scrum. But when we call the GAP, people can be referred to a pharmacist – you have seen how we have extended the services – they can go to a CLSC where a specialized nurse practitioner can also take care of them. »
Christian Dubé underlines that doctors have continued to offer availability to GAP since the end of the agreement. Appointments are also available at medical clinics. In total, around 300,000 medical consultations are given each week by family doctors in Quebec, he said.
The Minister of Health is scheduled to deliver a conference to members of the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal at 1 p.m. Health network union members are currently demonstrating in front of the Palais des Congrès.
More details to come…