Quebec’s healthcare system is facing a critical loss of specialized medical talent, as two prominent cardiac surgeons have announced their departures from the province this summer. Dr. Dimitri Kalavrouziotis, of the Institut universitaire de cardiologie et de pneumologie de Québec, is set to move to Halifax in August. His departure follows the recent announcement that Dr. Emmanuel Moss, chief of cardiac surgery at the Jewish General Hospital in Montreal, will relocate to Atlanta in September.
These exits highlight an intensifying crisis within the province’s cardiac care sector. Once these surgeons depart, Quebec will be left with 44 cardiac surgeons to manage a backlog of nearly 1,600 heart operations, alongside standard surgical demand. Experts indicate the province requires at least 56 surgeons to adequately meet the needs of an aging population, which is projected to see an increase in cardiovascular disease prevalence until 2050.
Did You Know?
Over the past decade, 17 cardiac surgeons trained in Quebec have left the province to practice elsewhere in Canada and the United States, contributing to an exodus of medical specialists that has challenged local recruitment efforts.
A System Under Pressure
The strain on cardiac services extends beyond the loss of surgeons. The province is also facing a significant shortage of perfusionists—the essential professionals who operate heart-lung machines. Current staffing levels have dropped to 65, down from 70 last year, while the provincial requirement stands at 90. Dr. Louis Perrault, president of the Association des chirurgiens cardio-vasculaires et thoraciques du Québec, describes the current state of cardiac surgery as the most perilous in his 29-year career.
The consequences for patients are profound. Dr. Perrault noted that while heart patients were once able to receive surgery within a month, wait times have now stretched to a year for some. The situation has been further exacerbated by the departure of other physicians following the introduction of Bill 2, a law regarding physician pay that has since been redrafted by the provincial government.
Expert Insight:
The combination of an aging demographic and a shrinking pool of specialized personnel creates a high-stakes scenario. When wait times for life-saving procedures extend from weeks to a year, the risk of “moral injury” among providers grows, as surgeons are forced to operate within a system that increasingly fails to meet the threshold of timely, essential care.
Looking Ahead: Potential Impacts
The confluence of rising demand and dwindling resources could lead to further service disruptions. Dr. Moss previously warned that without additional support for perfusionists, programs like the one at the Jewish General Hospital are at risk of a rupture in service. Should recruitment difficulties persist, it is likely that the surgical backlog will continue to grow, potentially forcing the province to further rely on international recruitment, which has become increasingly difficult as the province’s systemic challenges gain international attention.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current shortage of cardiac surgeons in Quebec?
Quebec currently has 44 cardiac surgeons and requires at least 56 to meet the needs of the aging population.
Why are surgeons leaving the province?
Reasons cited include a lack of resources in the public health system, concerns regarding rising antisemitism, and the impact of the provincial government’s legislative changes regarding physician pay.
How has the shortage of perfusionists affected hospital services?
The number of perfusionists has fallen to 65, short of the required 90. Experts warn this shortage puts cardiac surgery programs at risk of a complete rupture in service.
What measures, if any, do you believe are necessary to stabilize the retention of medical specialists within the provincial healthcare system?
