Family physicians in Quebec are exerting pressure
In the heart of Quebec, a standoff between the Legault government and family doctors has escalated, with both parties expressing dissatisfaction over the current state of negotiations for a new collective agreement.
The chief negotiator for the Legault government in these talks is Pierre Fitzgibbon. On the other side, the Quebec Federation of General Practitioners (FMOQ) has taken a firm stance, announcing they will cease participating in administrative meetings, excluding those directly related to patient care, effective from Tuesday.
The FMOQ's decision comes as a response to the lack of progress in negotiations, a point they have not hesitated to criticize. The doctors are pushing for Health Minister Christian Dubé to 'negotiate in good faith' and to resort to an independent arbitrator in the talks. Tensions escalated last Friday when family doctors filed a lawsuit against Minister Dubé with the Quebec Superior Court.
The minister's office has expressed concern over the measures announced by the FMOQ on Tuesday. In response, they have reminded that discussions should take place at the negotiating table. The office has also stated that pressure tactics targeting essential projects such as the Digital Health Record are not beneficial for either patients or doctors.
Audrey Noiseux, the minister's press attaché, has further emphasized this point, stating that such tactics are not conducive to a productive dialogue. She also noted that the ministry will attend the scheduled meeting tomorrow morning with seriousness and good faith, aiming to protect the interest of patients.
The FMOQ, however, has shown no signs of backing down. They have warned that they may review the decision not to stop teaching medical students if the government does not demonstrate 'real good faith' at their meeting on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the majority of the 2000 externs in medicine without a stage joined the FMOQ in a strike on an unspecified date, adding another layer of complexity to the ongoing negotiations.
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As the negotiations between the FMOQ and the Legault government continue, both parties remain steadfast in their positions, with the hope that a resolution can be reached that benefits both the doctors and the patients they serve.
