CONTROL OF THE PATTERNS OF DECISION-MAKIN G - CASE OF GEOGRAPHIC-DISTRIBUTION OF MEDICAL PERSONNEL THROUGHOUT QUEBEC

There are three different generations in the formation of policy conce rning the geographic distribution of doctors in Quebec. The first one covers the 1974-1981 period; the second, the years 1981 to 1985; and t he third, the years 1985 to 1991. The policy measures which are charac teristic of each of the generations were determined in a large part by some patterns of the decision-making process. During the first genera tion the governmental authorities and the representatives of the docto rs controlled these patterns. During the second generation, the govern mental actors were dominating. By the end of the third generation the representatives of the doctors were successful in controlling the deci sion patterns pertaining to the measures to which they were opposed. C onsequently, the governmental authorities have changed these measures to the advantage of doctors.