As recently as Monday, three top doctors at the Outaouais health authority quit. They made this move in reaction to disruptive Bill 2 that ties doctor pay to number of patients. The medical community in Quebec is currently seeing increasing grassroots unrest about the effects of this law. In response, many members are quitting. Staff Surgeon-in-Chief Dr. Éric Bégin, head of surgery department, resigned in late October. Only a few days later, on October 24, the head of obstetrics and gynecology, Dr. Lionel Ange Poungui, did the same. Dr. Trevor Hennessey, the head of anesthesiology soon announced his resignation effective November 1. He will continue working through December 31 to ensure the smooth transition of his responsibilities.
Starting January 1, the new legislation will go into effect. That’s because its main goal is to incentivize doctors by rewarding them for seeing as many patients as possible. This has understandably alarmed physicians about the quality of care, as well as its long-term implications for their practices.
Concerns Over Bill 2
As a public health physician, Dr. Hennessey expressed his extreme disappointment that the new law passed. He thinks it’s darkened his outlook on the future of healthcare in the Outaouais.
“After 16 years they have succeeded in breaking my spirit and my hope for the future of health care in the Outaouais, leaving me with only one last thing to do. Resign.” – Dr. Trevor Hennessey
He fears that the new reformed compensation model may disincentivize new medical professionals coming in from continuing to practice in the area. This issue is of particular urgency with new hires likely to come online next summer.
Dr Poungui voiced similar sentiments, denouncing the law as “disrespectful” to physicians. He stated, “Currently, doctors bear the brunt of the dysfunctional system we have,” and emphasized that he could not continue working under such conditions.
Protests and Legal Actions
The frustration felt by medical professionals has led to action further than individual resignations. More than twenty-five family doctors in Quebec have already publicly announced their decision to leave new public healthcare systems because of the consequences of Bill 2.
The national federation of medical specialists has gone to bat. Frustrated with the federal government’s choices, they’ve taken that frustration a step further and are suing the feds. Not surprisingly, many of these physicians are making plans to move to Ontario. They think the conditions there are much more conducive to their practice.
On Sunday, more than a hundred health professionals and medical students protested outside the Gatineau Hospital. Even after the passage of Bill 2, they fought passionately to stop its enactment. This region, in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement, is coming together to express their disapproval. They are standing up for consideration and respect in the legislative process.
The Future of Healthcare in Outaouais
The resignations of these three key figures point to a bigger issue plaguing healthcare in the Outaouais. Dr. Bégin was hopeful that this would mark a turnaround in surgical care at CISSSO. Then, as he described, recent events rattled his faith.
“It is extremely unfortunate because with the core of my resilient, competent, professional colleagues … I was confident of turning around the situation in surgery at the CISSSO.” – Dr. Éric Bégin
Dr. Hennessey had a strong warning message about his decision to leave should become the expected outcome for patients in western Quebec. As he reflected on his experiences, he stated, “We have been ignored time and time again,” emphasizing the frustration felt by many in the medical field.
As these developments take place, it still remains to be seen just how Bill 2 will affect the delivery of healthcare and the retention of physicians in Quebec. The state of play is dynamic and ever-evolving. As implementation gets underway, medical professionals and patients alike are looking forward to greater certainty about the future of healthcare in their communities.
