Majority of Quebec optometrists say they are leaving public healthcare system

Patients under the age of 18 and older than 65 will no longer be able to receive free eye care in most optometrists' offices in Quebec, as90 per cent of the province'soptometrists have announced their intention to leavethe public health care system.

After years of unsuccessful compensation negotiations, theoptometrists plan to go privateby March 10, in what appears to be a final effort to put pressure on the government.

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"For the past 15 years, we have repeatedly asked for fair compensation, and the government has been turning a deaf ear," said Dr. Steven Carrier, president of Quebec's optometrists association, in statement.

"Our patience has run thin."

In an interview with CBC News last month, Carrier said optometrists have been paying out of pocket for exams covered by Quebec's health insurance board, RAMQ.

Optometrists are paid $42 for eye exams on patients under the age of 18 and over 65. Carrier said thatdoesn't cover operationcosts and optometristsend up shelling out more than$1 per patient.

In the private sector, Carrier pointed out,optometrists typically charge $80 for exams on patients between the ages of 18 and 65, who aren't coveredunder Quebec healthcare.

Carrier said about50 per cent of optometrists' patients are covered by government insurance and that number could grow due to Quebec's aging population.

The association says the specialists are collectively paid$56.5 million per year, which accounts for 0.15 per cent of the provincial health ministry's budget.