Doctors fear they will have to close their practices after revised expenses in Quebec bill

An obstetrician diagnoses a pregnant patient. (Pexels)

Doctors fear they will have to close their practices where they see patients for consultations due to the revised rates in Bill 2 on the administrative costs that doctors must pay for office expenses and certain employees.

The Quebec obstetricians and gynecologists association (AOGQ) has already seen closures in several regions, including recently in Quebec City, where the Centre d’obstétrique et de gynécologie de la Cité plans to close its doors on March 30.

• READ MORE: What’s in Quebec’s controversial doctors’ bill?

For the past month, the centre has had to stop taking on new pregnancy follow-ups. According to the association, this centre monitored around 1,500 pregnancies per year, or nearly 25 per cent of the follow-ups carried out in Quebec City.

AOGQ president Dr. Dominique Tremblay is concerned about obstetrics and gynecological care, but he says that this affects several other specialties, particularly dermatologists, who are in a difficult situation, to his knowledge.

“Operating costs and inflation have increased across the province,” he says. “We are certainly not the only ones.”

The AOGQ notes that the additional allowance to cover office expenses has not been increased in about 15 years. Fixed costs often exceed income from medical services, making many practices unprofitable.

“The current funding for clinics in private practices is insufficient to cover clinic expenses and operations,” says Tremblay.

He explains that for several years now, many hospitals have stopped providing resources for obstetrics and gynecology facilities. As a result, many pregnancy follow-ups are carried out outside hospitals in Quebec, for which the Quebec Health Insurance Board (Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec - RAMQ) pays a fee to provide access to private practices.

Previously, for a pregnancy follow-up visit, the doctor received $6.55 to cover the operating costs of the practice. For a “main visit where we saw the patient,” it was $12, and for a consultation, it was around $30, says the AOGQ president.

“The ministry abolished all fees related to the consultation supplement and lowered all rates by 13.4 per cent,” Tremblay calculates. “We now end up with an amount of $10.44 per visit, whether it’s a 45-minute consultation or a 15-minute visit.”

‘Not enough to keep clinics operational’

The Legault government explained in recent days that some doctors were spending less than the 30 per cent that was given to pay for office expenses and were pocketing the rest. That is why it reviewed the amount allocated to doctors for these expenses.

Tremblay is skeptical.

“I find it very difficult to understand how this can be done because the amounts given are not enough to keep clinics operational,” he said. “Add in the receptionist, the secretary, the computer system, electricity, insurance, and the lease. Look, you can calculate it any way you want, but it’s impossible to make it work.”

The AOGQ has been concerned about the situation for several years.

In 2022, it submitted a report to the health minister on an economic study that found it impossible to make ends meet with the current amounts allocated and expressed concern about possible clinic closures.

To correct the situation, the AOGQ is asking that the amounts be increased to keep the clinics open or that the government itself take over the leases and other administrative expenses.

The Canadian Press’s health coverage is supported by a partnership with the Canadian Medical Association. The Canadian Press is solely responsible for this journalistic content.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Oct. 29, 2025.