Quebec Election: Couillard Promises Gp for 90 Per Cent of Quebecers

ST-GEORGES - Liberal leader Philippe Couillard promised Thursday to inject $200 million into home health care services, hire more nurses aides and ensure 90 per cent of Quebecers have access to a family doctor by the end of his term.At the same time, he said the government would follow through on threats to penalize family doctors and specialists if provincial objectives aren't met by the end of the year.Health Minister Gatan Barrette had warned family doctors could see their pay slashed by as much as 30 per cent for failing to meet targets. They're expected to follow at least 900 patients each.Couillard also pledged to increase health spending by at least 4.2 per cent next year, a $200-million increase over the Liberals' previous budgetary promise to increase spending by 4 per cent. That number could rise if the economic situation allows, the government said.Couillard made the announcement at a professional training centre in the Beauce region south of Quebec City."We must reflect on our actions in light of the needs of patients, in particular in the growing number of senior citizens," Couillard said.The Liberals would have access to a family doctor by 2017, then pushed the deadline to 2018 when it wasn't met. On June 30 of this year, 80 per cent of the population had a family doctor, a number that has remained the same for about a year and a half. Bringing coverage to 90 per cent of the population would see 900,000 more Quebecers having a family doctor.Couillard said a million more Quebecers have gained access to a family doctor since he was elected in 2014.The government wants to see 95 per cent of all health care services handled first by the province's family doctors, to take the strain off overloaded emergency rooms and clinics. The government agreed to give the province's over eight years in 2016, which would bring their average salary to $280,000. Medical specialists, who number roughly 10,000,