Fate of ELNA Medical's Montreal clinics unclear after creditor protection granted

Outside of Decarie Square, where ELNA Medical manages a complex, patients are bracing for the worst.

On Wednesday, Quebec’s Superior Court granted the group’s application for creditor protection.

“I’m not sure it’s going to be open the next time I come here,” said one man on his way into the building with his family. “I have a kid, and my wife she has to check with the gynecologist.”

At least 12 clinics in Montreal might close, leaving no less than 90 doctors and tens of thousands of patients in the lurch, according to the vice president of the Association des Medecins Omnipracticiens de Montreal.

“Doctors are frustrated that the needs of the patients are not put first,” said Dr. Francois-Pierre Gladu.

The association is scrambling to relocate doctors to other clinics in case of closures.

ELNA Medical owes its creditors close to $100 million dollars, said Benoit Fontaine who has been appointed by the court to manage the company’s assets.

He added there could be transfers of doctors to other ELNA clinics to reduce overhead costs, but he’s confident all of the group’s clinics and labs will be bought and no patients will lose access.

“The company has sufficient financing to operate for the next month or so. During those next months, it’s going to be business as usual,” said Fontaine.

The president of Quebec’s College of Physicians wasn’t available for an interview today, but the organization reacted to the news on social media, saying they’ll be closely monitoring the situation of patients affected by ELNA Medical’s financial difficulties.