# Recommendations of an Independent Expert Committee for the Development of Quebec’s First Government Policy on Primary Care

## TL;DR

An expert committee provided six key recommendations to improve primary care in Quebec by addressing fragmentation and inequity.

## Contribution

The paper presents a pragmatic roadmap for Quebec's primary care reform based on stakeholder consultations and evidence.

## Key findings

- Consultations revealed a fragmented, hospital-centred primary care system with inequitable access.
- Six key recommendations were developed, aligned with international best practices.
- A concrete action plan is needed to implement the proposed vision for primary care reform.

## Abstract

In January 2025, the Ministry of Health and Social Services commissioned an independent expert panel to make recommendations to guide the first government policy addressing the primary care crisis in Quebec. Conducted over a period of 4 months, this work combines a targeted literature review, 59 consultations with more than 200 stakeholders, and a provincial forum to develop recommendations grounded in evidence and local realities. Findings from the consultations revealed a fragmented, hospital-centred system characterized by inequitable access and insufficient continuity. The expert committee formulated six coherent and locally adaptable key recommendations aligned with international best practices. This provides a pragmatic and comprehensive roadmap to strengthen primary care in Quebec through interdisciplinary teams, territorial governance, protected and dedicated funding, data infrastructure, and user involvement. A concrete action plan is essential to achieve the proposed vision, which will require time, consistency, and structured planning.