A record 1,064 physicians have left Quebec’s public healthcare system, according to data released this week by the province’s health ministry. The exodus, reported initially by Le Journal de Montréal, represents a significant increase in departures compared to previous years and comes as the province grapples with ongoing access to care issues.
The number of physicians opting out of the public system, known as becoming “non-participants,” has been steadily rising. In September 2024, the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ) recorded 59 such departures. That figure climbed to 67 in September 2025, following the implementation of Bill 83, legislation designed to limit the movement of doctors between the public and private sectors.
Bill 83, adopted in April 2025, requires modern physicians to practice in the public system for the first five years after completing their studies. It too mandates that all doctors obtain authorization from Santé Québec before practicing in the private system, subject to specific criteria. Despite the law’s intent, the latest figures indicate it has not stemmed the flow of doctors leaving public practice.
According to reporting from La Presse in October 2025, Santé Québec approved 69 requests for disaffiliation in September, representing 67 physicians (two submitted multiple requests). Of those, 29 were specialists in orthopedic surgery. The government agency stated it had not refused any requests.
Santé Québec maintains it is obligated to apply the law and rigorously analyzes each request based on principles outlined in the legislation, including maintaining service continuity, assessing the impact on access to care, and evaluating the physician’s potential contribution to the public system.
The office of Health Minister Christian Dubé has suggested that many of these departures are temporary. A statement released by the minister’s office indicated that “most disaffiliations are temporary and of short duration” and “do not reflect a disengagement from the public network.”
However, the scale of the recent departures raises concerns about the capacity of the public healthcare system to meet the needs of Quebec’s population. The province has been actively working to increase the number of doctors trained in Quebec, but the loss of experienced physicians to the private sector or other provinces remains a challenge.
In June 2025, the government published guidelines outlining the process for physicians seeking to turn into non-participants in the public health insurance plan, detailing the requirements for practicing outside the public network.
