Charging for no-shows at the doctor's office? "It's very delicate," says a health professional

Following in the footsteps of restaurateurs and charging a penalty to Quebecers who do not show up for their medical appointments "is not the main solution to provide" to remedy the situation, argues a doctor.

• Also read: $10 fines: this restaurateur refuses to penalize “no-shows”

"I think this type of case is very delicate. Often, the people who have the most missed appointments are people who have vulnerabilities, difficulties," said Dr. Véronique Clapperton, president of the Association of General Practitioners of Bas-Saint-Laurent (AMOBSL), on LCN on Friday.

In order to reduce the monthly number of patients who are conspicuous by their absence from their medical appointment, estimated at 30,000 according to the Collège des médecins du Québec , Ms. Clapperton believes that "raising awareness, reminding people of the importance of canceling an appointment and simplifying the cancellation process" are more realistic solutions.

"We're a public service, unlike restaurants, which are private businesses. I'm not sure that [charging the patient] is necessarily the solution," she adds.

“Every appointment counts”

While not saying that the phenomenon of no-shows is growing in the medical sphere, the president of AMOBSL has observed a resurgence of cases during the summer.

"I don't know if it's because people are more disconnected on vacation, but it's something we experience every day. The problem isn't why the patient can't come, but rather that the patient doesn't call to say they won't come," she says.

Especially since the number of Quebecers without a family doctor stands at 1.4 million, which reiterates the importance of calling to cancel an appointment.

"It's easy to cancel, especially in family medicine clinics and primary care clinics. It's just a phone call, and even if you can't reach the secretary to speak to her, you leave a message on the voicemail [...] every appointment counts," she recalls.

Watch the full interview above.