Quebec to boost Outaouais medical pay to ease shortage
Quebec will pay doctors, nurses and hospital pharmacists in the Outaouais region more than those in other parts of the province to ease a severe shortage and stop western Quebec patients from seeking care in Ontario.
The salary boost is part of a plan recognizing the special status of the region because it borders Ontario — and Ontario's health-care system — Health Minister Philippe Couillard said at a news conference in Gatineau Monday.
'We are considering now that we have no choice.' —Health Minister Philippe Couillard
There, he announced that Quebec has allotted$20 million to resolve personnel shortages, bring patients back to the Outaouais from Ontario, and improve access to services.
The dearth of Outaouais doctors has been blamed on higher wages at hospitals in nearby Ottawa, wherenew doctors and nurses are being recruited.
Meanwhile, the shortage of health-care workers has beenblamedfor the rising cost paid by theQuebec government to have Outaouais patients treated in Ontario, which amounted to $67 million in 2006.
Couillard admitted he is concerned thathigher pay in the Outaouais coulddraw doctors and nursesaway from other parts of the province.
"This is why the government resisted so long. But we are considering now that we have no choice,"he said. "So we have to be competitive and I think that the other regions will understand that."
Focus on recruiting foreign doctors
New internships in specialties such as obstetrics, surgery and oncology will also be created in western Quebec to help accredit the foreign doctorshealth officialshave been recruiting, Couillard said.
"We have the money, incentives for these regions to help them to interview these doctors and attract them to the region."
In addition, the Ministry of Health says it will boost spending on the region's emergency rooms and take steps to allow Ottawa doctors to practise in the Outaouais in the future.
Marthe Robitaille, spokeswoman for the local health lobby group l'Outaouais a l'urgence phase2, said the plan recognizes the special challenges faced by the region and includes many of the things her group has been calling for.
"The fact that they have recognized this region as a border region, and given it special status, I think that is pretty positive," she said.
l'Outaouais a l'urgence phase2estimates that theOutaouais is short 66 familydoctors, 50 specialists, 200 nurses and 10 to12 pharmacists compared to other regions of Quebec.