Hudson Medical Centre in Quebec Medical Services–Quebec will close on April 1, 2026. This decision is a direct response to this newly adopted Bill 2. The legislation went into effect on October 25. As you know, it directly ties physicians’ pay to certain performance measures, resulting in intense opposition from the physician community. The closure would cut off more than 85% of the clinic’s patients from care. As a consequence, three of the clinic’s seven doctors have decided to exit the province.
Bill 2 is a huge step toward implementing a new compensation model for physicians. They will be paid for how many patients they see and the vulnerability of those patients. The new performance-based pay structure has raised alarm bells with healthcare providers. They are concerned that it will affect the quality of patient care that they are able to provide. Dr. Tara McCarty, co-owner of the Hudson Medical Centre, expressed her belief that the law pressures doctors into providing “unsafe care” to patients.
Dr. McCarty painted a dire picture of her clinic, referring to the situation as “pretty devastating” because of the onboarding of the new legislation. She made clear that the effects reach far beyond her practice. It affects the community that has depended on that clinic to provide care.
“It has been a pretty devastating situation in our clinic, and I’m sure in many others,” – Dr. Tara McCarty
The loss of three doctors is a massive blow to an already overburdened healthcare system in the area. It’s no wonder that physicians have been vocal in their opposition to Bill 2, asserting that the bill threatens their capacity to provide quality care.
Dr. McCarty also stressed that the law sets the rules on how doctors should play. He continued, “We’ll be dictated to what, who, when, how often and how fast to see them. That is not just dangerous, but it’s contrary to how we practice at our clinic.” This feeling is shared by other medical providers who are just as afraid that these bureaucratic regulations put patients’ lives in danger.
The Hudson Medical Centre has shut down — a story that is becoming all too common here in Quebec. The physicians across multiple specialties are expressing their extreme disappointment at Bill 2. In response, federations of medical specialists and family doctors have launched legal challenges to the controversial law, demanding its suspension or amendment.
In response to growing concerns within the medical community, Premier François Legault and Dr. Marc-André Amyot have opened discussions aimed at addressing these issues. They emphasized that achieving a settlement would create an opportunity to successfully amend Bill 2. Simultaneously, they try to maintain or restore financial motivation for family physicians.
“If an agreement is reached, the government would accept amendments to Bill 2, knowing that part of family physicians’ compensation remains conditional on taking on an increased number of Quebecers,” – Premier François Legault and Dr. Marc-André Amyot
Dr. McCarty is still hesitant to see anything change through the legislation. Furthermore, she made it clear that only suspending the law would actually address her concerns about patient care. She underscored the need for physician autonomy on the issue.
Medical professionals have been striking and protesting to protect their rights. They’re demanding higher standards of patient care while the future of Bill 2 plays out. The Fédération des médecins omnipraticiens du Québec (FMOQ) agrees to stay at the table with Premier Legault. They are clearly intent on finding solutions that will mitigate the harmful reach of this legislation.
Engagement has reached a fever pitch, and legal action is stacking up. Everyone in the health community is looking forward to an agreement that guarantees patients quality care and doctors appropriate remuneration in Quebec.
