Quebec dentists withdraw from public dental plan

The Association of Dental Surgeons of Québec in Canada said it's withdrawing from the public dental plan as of February 18 over an impasse in negotiations with the Ministry of Health and Social Services.

Nearly 1,400 member dentists are participating in this action, which is designed to express their dissatisfaction with the lack of an agreement with the ministry since April 1, 2015, according to the association. The group emphasized, however, that this pressure tactic will not affect the accessibility or quality of care provided to patients, who will not be required to pay for services.

The association said the main issue in its negotiations is the government's unwillingness to recognize the operating costs of dental clinics. By withdrawing from the public dental plan, the dentists seek to show that they are unhappy with the impasse and to assert the true value of the services they provide under the public plan.

Despite not having an agreement for five years, the dentists have supported the public dental plan and continued to provide services to the public. However, the government's lack of interest in reaching an agreement with the association shows a complete lack of respect for dentists, noted President Carl Tremblay, DMD.

"By refusing to come to an agreement with dentists, the government is weakening a public plan that is already quite limited in scope," he said in a statement. "Only children under 10 years of age and income security beneficiaries are covered by the public oral health plan."