Fewer Quebecers have access to family doctors now than in 2019: study

A growing number of Quebecers are finding themselves without a family doctor, according to recent numbers from the Institut de la statistique du Québec (ISQ).

According to the agency, the percentage of residents with a family doctor has dropped from 82 per cent in 2019 to 72 per cent in 2024.

Montrealer Dominick Mikkelson lost his family doctor two years ago when they switched to private practice.

“So unless I want to pay private fees, I’m left without a family doctor,” he said. “It’s been frustrating.”

Situation is ‘unconscionable’

Dr. Michael Kalin, a Montreal-based family physician, called the situation “unconscionable.”

“Well, if we have 750,000 Montrealers without access to family medicine right now, we need 480 family doctors,” he said. “[Assuming] that each of these new family doctors will take 1,500 patients.”

The ISQ point to several reasons for the decline. For one, many doctors are retiring and newer doctors are choosing to take on fewer patients.

Dr. Kalin says one major reason is that family doctors are required to split their time between different responsibilities, including working at the hospital and long-term care facilities.

“Family doctors are not spending five days of the week working in community practice,” he explained. “They have to balance that, and this is why they can’t take on that huge load of the larger practices.”

Patients who are followed by a team of doctors rather than a single doctor are not included in the official count. The ISQ also states this as one of the reasons for the decline.

Calls for accountability

Patients’ rights advocate Paul Brunet says accountability is lacking.

“I’m fed up with this. I just want more accountability. If you don’t do the job and you don’t get the results that we need everyone to get, well, there’s going to be consequences,” said Brunet.

Dr. Kalin believes the system itself is preventing progress.

“We put in place this ridiculous system that allows the government to determine the number of doctors where they can practice and their movement, and this discourages young doctors,” said Dr. Kalin.

Access to a family doctor for every Quebecer was one of the many promises made by the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) government when it was first elected in 2018.

In a statement to CTV News, Quebec’s Health Ministry wrote, “The numbers are clear: too many Quebec patients still can’t get an appointment when they need one. We can no longer continue with the current model. That’s why we will continue to make the necessary changes to improve access to care for all patients, with the aim of ensuring that all Quebec patients are taken care of.”

As for Mikkelson, who is Indigenous, he’s now turning to an alternative source of care. He has been going to the Indigenous Health Centre of Tiohtia:ke for his health needs and is planning to become an official patient there.

“That is something that I am looking into,” said Mikkelson.