Difficult to access a medical specialist, laments Quebec’s AG

Acting Auditor General Alain Fortin presents his report at a press conference at the National Assembly on May 22, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot (Jacques Boissinot/The Canadian Press)

It’s difficult in Quebec to get an initial consultation with a medical specialist, laments Acting Auditor General Alain Fortin.

In his report tabled in the National Assembly on Thursday, Fortin pointed out that although the problems have been “known for several years,” the implementation of measures to improve the situation has been “slow.”

In 10 audited specialties, 71 per cent of consultation requests awaiting priority C and 77 per cent of those awaiting priority D are past their deadlines.

A priority C is, for example, uncontrolled epilepsy, and a priority D is disabling osteoarthritis or recurrent ear infections.

The problem is particularly acute in ophthalmology, according to the AG. For example, in the North Shore region, the average wait time is more than 500 days for priority C and D consultation requests.

According to a 2025 survey conducted by the Collège des médecins, more than one in four Quebecers consulted a private physician in the 12 months preceding the survey because of difficulties in obtaining an appointment in the public system.

- by Caroline Plante

- This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Nov. 27, 2025