Quebec resumes talks with specialist doctors amid growing pressure on obstetrics services
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The Quebec government resumed negotiations on Thursday, April 2, 2026, with specialist doctors in a major health-care file that has returned to the forefront after weeks of deadlock, amid growing pressure on obstetrics services and specialist referrals across the province.
The talks resume after an official suspension that had lasted since the end of January, while the financial dispute remains unresolved. Specialist doctors are seeking a 14.5 percent increase over five years, while the Quebec government is still holding to an 11 percent offer, with other issues also remaining on the table regarding service organization and practice conditions.
The importance of this file now goes beyond bargaining. Reports published yesterday warned that obstetrics and gynecology clinics in Quebec are closing one after another because there is still no agreement to address the underfunding of office operating costs, raising concerns about reduced prenatal follow-up and growing pressure on clinics and hospitals.
One of the clearest examples is a clinic in Châteauguay that is set to close at the end of April after following about 900 pregnancies a year, representing roughly 23,000 annual visits. The relevant professional association has also warned that patients could lose nearly 90,000 annual visits within two years if no agreement is reached.
Since mid-March, specialist doctors have also stepped up pressure tactics by halting the use of the service request distribution platform for specialist referrals, while insisting that they are not cancelling priority appointments or refusing new patients. Although the resumption of talks is being seen as a positive move, the key question now is whether it will quickly lead to an agreement that eases pressure on a health system already struggling with access to specialized care.
