The Family Unit
Quebec Government launches on-line program for residents to find a doctor
Mishall RehmanPour lire l'histoire en français , cliquez ici
Residents of Quebec still waiting on a family doctor can now register online through a recently launched government initiative. According to Quebec Health Minister, Gaetan Barrette, a majority of Quebec residents will have a family doctor within a year.
The new program, entitled Guichet d’accès à un médecin de famille (GAMF), is expected to improve the flow of information between patients and family physicians.
“So, we set up the best means to achieve our objectives of improving the management and monitoring of customers without a family doctor, and this for all of Quebec,” said Noémie Vanheuverzwijn, with the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux.
The new service also uses geolocation, a plus for military families.
“Furthermore, the system allows the linkage between users and doctors on the basis of proximity, thanks to geolocation that evaluates the distance between the doctor’s place of business and residence of the citizen. This solution is therefore perfectly complements our efforts to improve access to primary care and proximity,” added Vanheuverzwijn.
Online registration is part of Quebec’s new health care bill, Bill 20, which was first introduced in November 2014 and was adopted a year later. The Bill makes promises to provide 85 per cent of Quebecois with a family doctor by Dec. 31, 2017.
Once registering, requests are evaluated, and priority is given according to a patient’s health. Wait times vary according to the availability in the region.
To register, individuals must be living in Quebec, at least 14 years or older. Applicants must not be living in Nunavik or Cree Territory of James Bay. If a resident is already in the system and waiting for a doctor, they do not need to reapply.
To register for a family doctor today visit the Government of Quebec’s website. 
