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Longueuil – For National Medical Laboratory Week, taking place from April 12 to 18, 2026, the APTS (Alliance du personnel professionnel et technique de la santé et des services sociaux) is highlighting the indispensable work of thousands of professionals, technicians and technologists who work in medical labs in the public system. Often working behind the scenes, these people play a central role in the health care system, with more than 85% of diagnoses relying on lab analyses.

“Without laboratory employees, we simply don’t have a functioning health care system!” said APTS president Robert Comeau. “Their expertise is essential, and their work is critical. But too often their contribution is invisible, despite its vital importance for Quebecers. This week is an opportunity to give them the recognition they deserve, while underscoring the urgent need to improve their working conditions.”

Working conditions under pressure since OPTILAB

The labour shortage in medical labs has continued to worsen since the start of the OPTILAB reform. Increased centralization of testing, an imbalance between hub and partner labs and frequent reliance on overtime — often covertly imposed — have created a vicious cycle in which conditions of work and practice are deteriorating, further exacerbating the labour shortage.

“Teams are forced to operate with chronic staff shortages, which increases workloads, intensifies their exhaustion and undermines the organization of services,” said APTS vice-president responsible for laboratories, Carl Verreault. “The situation isn’t sustainable for employees, and it’s unacceptable for Quebecers, who are seeing a decline in the quality of services.”

And, according to the APTS, the difficulties facing laboratories are eroding Quebecers’ trust in the public system, in addition to creating fertile ground for private companies to generate profits by expanding their service offer to include specimen collection and certain types of tests.

Strong, well-functioning public laboratories are essential to ensuring accessible, compassionate, high-quality care and services across all regions of Québec.

Four key points for healthy laboratories

As part of this week of recognition, the APTS proposes four essential areas of intervention to ensure the future of medical labs in the public system. The first is the full recognition of employee expertise, valuing their essential contribution and getting their input about how work is organized.

The APTS also stresses the importance of rebalancing workloads, noting that excessive centralization of testing has weakened teams and worsened the labour shortage.

Maintaining healthy laboratories also requires safe work environments and equipment, suited to the realities of lab work, at a time when rundown infrastructure and aging equipment expose employees to avoidable risks.

Improving conditions of work and practice is essential to retaining current employees and attracting new ones, in the face of growing competition from the private sector.

“If the government truly wants to build a strong public system and end its reliance on the private sector, it has to start by strengthening its foundations, and medical labs are one of its cornerstones,” said Carl Verreault. “National Medical Laboratory Week must be a starting point for concrete, lasting action.”

The APTS

The APTS (Alliance du personnel professionnel et technique de la santé et des services sociaux) represents more than 68,000 members who play a key role in ensuring that health and social services institutions run smoothly. Our members provide a wide range of services for all Quebecers, including diagnostic, rehabilitation, nutrition, psychosocial intervention, clinical support, and prevention services.