Quebec College of Physicians concerned about political interference with Bill 7

A stethoscope and chart in a doctor's office. (Pexels)

The Quebec College of Physicians (CMQ) fears that Bill 7 will lead to political interference that would undermine the scientific independence of public health organizations.

It is calling for the bill to be reformed; otherwise it fears that there will be abuses in Quebec, as has been observed elsewhere in the world.

This is the argument put forward by the college’s president, Dr. Mauril Gaudreault, in a letter sent Monday to the Secretary of the Institutions Committee regarding the “Act to reduce bureaucracy, increase government efficiency and strengthen the accountability of senior public servants.”

The bill provides for the merger of the Institut national d’excellence en santé et en services sociaux (INESSS) and the Institut national de santé publique du Québec (INSPQ) into a single entity: the Institut québécois de santé et de services sociaux (IQSSS). There would also be a transfer of the operation of national laboratories to Santé Québec, previously under the responsibility of the INSPQ.

The CMQ understands that the merger would centralize expertise in order to improve the efficiency of the State. However, it fears that the scientific and decision-making independence of public health authorities cannot be preserved if Bill 7 is adopted as is.

“Such independence is essential to guarantee the credibility of scientific advice and to avoid any political or economic influence. We fear that the merger will weaken the role of surveillance, prevention, protection and health promotion in our health system, particularly with regard to chronic diseases, infectious diseases and potential pandemics, especially since public health functions and missions are not explicitly stated in the bill,” Gaudreault wrote in his letter.

He calls on the government to review its bill so that the new version clearly sets out the mission and functions of public health agencies with a view to guaranteeing their autonomy and effectiveness, “particularly in terms of surveillance, prevention, protection and health promotion.”

Moreover, the International Association of National Public Health Institutes (IANPHI), of which the INSPQ is a member, stresses the importance of ensuring the financial autonomy of public health institutes and protecting their scientific processes from political interference. Nevertheless, it remains important to maintain collaboration with the Ministry of Health, the IANPHI adds.

An example not to follow: the United States

Gaudreault cites the American example to urge caution with the restructuring proposed in Bill 7.

Recently, a major reorganization in the United States led to massive cuts in funding for the Centers for Disease Control, the Federal Drug Administration and the National Institute of Health. Essential programs were cut, “exacerbating health inequalities within populations”, points out the CMQ president.

“These measures, imposed under the guise of efficiency, have weakened the US authorities’ response to health crises and politicized decisions that should have been based strictly on science. The college believes that Quebec must avoid embarking on a path that could lead to abuses,” warns Gaudreault.

He also points out that the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need to strengthen the scientific capacity of public health agencies. According to the College of Physicians president, the desire to reduce bureaucracy could be an opportunity to establish a stronger public health infrastructure, similar to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) model that exists in several countries, including Canada.

Transfer of responsibility for organ donation

Bill 7 also aims to dissolve Transplant Quebec and transfer its responsibilities to Héma-Quebec. The college does not seem enthusiastic about the idea. At the very least, it stresses that it is essential that expertise be preserved in this transfer. With its primary mission being the protection of the public, it wants to ensure the quality and continuity of care for people who need a transplant.

“The transfer should include measures to maintain Transplant Quebec’s specialized teams, whose expertise is widely recognized. Transplant Quebec has in-depth knowledge of all aspects of the organ donation process and masters the complexity inherent in its hospital intervention, while Héma-Quebec operates mainly in a community setting,” writes Gaudreault.

Héma-Quebec participated in special consultations on Bill 7, which began last week and will continue on Tuesday.

In a press release issued on Nov. 26, Héma-Quebec said that the concerns expressed by Transplant Quebec and the medical teams were legitimate.

The Crown corporation is evaluating the possibility of integrating Transplant Quebec as a subsidiary, “which would not result in any short-term changes to the organization’s practices and management,” according to Héma-Quebec.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Dec. 2, 2025.

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.