Quebec's health minister is trying to convince the doctors of the future that he's doing what's best for the population by reforming the health care system.

On Monday Gaetan Barrette spent four hours talking with medical students at the University of Montreal, and he repeated the process Tuesday at McGill University.

"It was perhaps a little bit unusual to have the health minister himself be present, but I think it's really an unrivalled opportunity for students to really have a clear dialogue with him," said Doulia Hamad, the president of the Medical Students' Society of McGill.

Barrette spent half of the time explaining Bill 20 and other reforms, then answered questions from the people who will have to work under the new rules and regulations.

The minister said the reforms are aimed at dealing with Quebec's complex reality of "economic, social needs, population needs."

"It is a complex issue that has to be addressed with all the facts on the table," said Barrette.

The health care reforms touted by Barrette are aimed at increasing the number of Quebecers who have a family doctor. Currently 68 percent of Quebecers have a family doctor, and the government wants that number to grow to 85 percent by Dec. 31, 2017.

Doctors have agreed to digitize more medical records, and to create 100 "superclinics" which would combine doctors, nurses, psychologists and other medical professionals in one centre to allow access to family doctors in semi-urgent matters

However students are still concerned about the penalty clauses discussed in Bill 20, which could come into effect as they begin their careers.

"Does this leave no place for people to work part time and so does that mean people who want to work part time for instance for family reasons -- to spend more time with children -- does that leave those physicians out?" asked Nadia Demko.

Hamad said she was concerned about trying to improve care while cutting costs.

"By cutting in public health, it seems to me like we're going to reduce the efficiency of family medicine practice, so we're going to undermine what Bill 20 aims to do," said Hamad.

Many students had suggestions for Barrette, including launching campaigns to educate patients about the importance of knowing their own medical histories, or to teach the public that different hospitals specialize in different types of care.

Barrette, who freely admitted to being very pushy when it comes to reform, said he understood concerns about quality of care being rushed, but continually emphasized there was leeway to make sure more people received adequate medical care.

Barrette will continue these exchanges in the fall with medical students in Sherbrooke and Quebec City.