Quebec Proposes Fines for New Doctors Leaving Public Health System

Doctors trained in Quebec must work in the public sector for five years or face penalties up to $200,000 per day under a new bill aimed at curbing private sector migration.

• The Quebec government introduced Bill 83, requiring new doctors trained in the province to work in the public health system for their first five years of practice.
• Doctors who move to the private sector or leave Quebec during this period could face fines ranging from $20,000 to $200,000 per day, with harsher penalties for repeat violations.
• The legislation aims to address a 70% increase in doctors working exclusively in private practice since 2020, particularly among recent graduates.
• Quebec spends between $435,000 and $790,000 to train each doctor, and the government argues they have a duty to serve the taxpayers who funded their education.
• The bill has received preliminary support from opposition parties but will not be studied until 2025, with debates expected over its constitutional implications and potential use of the notwithstanding clause.

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