Why are consultation wait times so long? Explanations about the Quebec healthcare system

By Dr. Aurélia Nha-Huyen Nguyen Gouez, a family physician and medical director of French origin, based in Quebec since 2016.

If you've ever tried to make an appointment with a family doctor in Quebec, you've likely encountered daunting wait times: weeks, even months. Even when using the Frontline Access Desk (GAP), it's not uncommon to have to wait several days just to speak to an assessor. Why is it so long? Is it an organizational, resource, or system issue? Here are some explanations to help you better understand.

1. A universal public system… but under pressure

Quebec, like the rest of Canada, offers a universal public healthcare system funded by taxes. It's a fair model, but it relies on a limited number of professionals and tightly controlled budgets. As a result, demand far exceeds supply.

Some telling figures:

• Approximately 20% of Quebecers do not have a regular family doctor.

• Caring for a patient in a GMF (Family Medicine Group) involves monitoring, evaluations and administrative time.

• Emergency rooms are overflowing, partly because access to the front line is slowed down.

2. The operation of the GAP and its limits

The GAP was established to facilitate access to care for patients without a family doctor or waiting for an appointment. In theory, it assesses the request and directs the patient to an available resource.

But in fact:

• There may be a delay of several days before a GAP assessor contacts you.

• Even after evaluation, no appointment is guaranteed if the available slots are already filled.

• Patients have to wait for a phone call, often without knowing the time slot, which complicates scheduling.

• When you already have a family doctor, the Rendez-vous santé Québec (RVSQ) does not allow you to access other clinics, even if they have availability.

3. Doctors… often very busy elsewhere

Contrary to popular belief, Quebec family doctors do not spend all their days in office consultations. Many:

• Work in emergency rooms, CHSLDs, hospitals or CLSCs.

• Have patient and hour quotas to respect, according to agreements with the MSSS.

• Are subject to significant administrative pressure (files, forms, evaluations, etc.).

This limits their actual availability for clinic appointments, hence the delays.

4. Technology not yet optimal

Despite platforms like RVSQ, online appointment booking remains:

• Fragmented (each clinic manages its own availability).

• Not very transparent (patients do not always see who has places).

• Inaccessible to patients without RAMQ or those who have recently arrived.

There is no integrated one-stop shop, making it difficult to get quick access to even simple issues.

5. What about private clinics? A temporary solution

Faced with these delays, more and more patients are turning to the private sector, which is not covered by the RAMQ but which offers:

• Quick access (often within the day or the next day).

• Home or teleconsultation consultations.

• More flexible support for follow-ups or one-off care.

At Allodocteur.ca, we wanted to create a concrete alternative to these delays. Our goal: to make care more accessible, more humane, and closer to you.

Conclusion

Consultation wait times in Quebec reflect a system under strain: a lack of resources, administrative rigidity, and growing public expectations. While awaiting structural reforms, solutions exist to avoid waiting lists, notably by combining public services and private clinics.

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