Good News for Foreign Qualified Doctors in Canada
Jun 16th 2001, 11:47 am
#1
Guest
Posts: n/a
Good news for foreign qualified doctors in Canada. (I guess, bad news for pizza
delivery companies and the taxi cab industry.)
Foreign MD rules eased
Theresa Boyle QUEEN'S PARK BUREAU
The provincial government hopes to ease the doctor shortage by making it easier for
foreign-trained physicians to practise in Ontario. Health Minister Tony Clement
announced yesterday that the number of foreign-trained doctors being trained every
year to practise in Ontario will jump to 90 from 36. ``We are trying to ensure that
excellent physician services are available to meet all of our community needs
throughout Ontario.'' He said the announcement represents a $1.4 million investment,
and will bring as many as 40 new foreign-trained physicians to underserved and rural
communities every year. The government has expanded the International Medical
Graduate Program by 14 positions, bringing the total to 50. The program gives
training to individuals who have undergraduate medical degrees and post-graduate
training outside Canada. As well, the government introduced a new accelerated program
to assess and train fully qualified foreign doctors. The six-month program will bring
as many as 40 new doctors each year to underserviced communities. The doctors must
sign contracts assuring they will work in designated under-serviced areas. If they
leave, they would face disciplinary action by the College of Physicians and Surgeons
of Ontario. The province faces a shortage of up to 1,000 physicians, according to a
report released in December, 1999. The province has long wanted to expand the
foreign-trained doctor program but faced resistance from the college, which had
concerns about quality and standards. Yesterday, a college spokesperson said those
concerns had been addressed. Clement said Ontario would not poach doctors from other
countries, even though the concern was raised recently in a report commissioned by
his ministry.
Toronto Star - June 15, 2001 Ontario to rush foreign MDs through licencing
Program will service doctor-starved rural areas, Tony Clement says
Experienced foreign doctors unable to practise in doctor-hungry Ontario because they
lack the credentials will be fast-tracked through the certification process, Health
Minister Tony Clement said Thursday. The province will spend $1.4 million to expand
certification programs to allow 90 new doctors a year to work in communities where
there is a shortage. ''Ontario will be the first province to implement a full
six-month assessment program with up to two years of post-graduate training for those
who require additional skills,'' he said. In addition, the number of doctors
certified under the existing International Medical Graduate will rise to 50 from 36,
he said. Doctors enrolled in the new program would be contractually obliged to
practice in the community experiencing the shortage for a set period of time. Those
who do not would risk disciplinary action by the College of Physicians and Surgeons,
Clement said. The length of their mandated stay in remote areas has yet to be
determined, he added.
Dr. Rocco Gerace, president of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario,
said he was satisfied the new program would benefit both patients and doctors.
''With this program we can continue to be the beneficiary of the contributions of
internationally trained physicians with the assurance of the high standards we
currently enjoy.'' Currently, between 1,200 and 1,400 doctors are trained in
Ontario each year. Gerace said one-quarter of all physicians in Ontario are
foreign-trained graduates. The Health Ministry was unable to estimate how many
foreign-trained doctors in Ontario are currently not working as physicians.
delivery companies and the taxi cab industry.)
Foreign MD rules eased
Theresa Boyle QUEEN'S PARK BUREAU
The provincial government hopes to ease the doctor shortage by making it easier for
foreign-trained physicians to practise in Ontario. Health Minister Tony Clement
announced yesterday that the number of foreign-trained doctors being trained every
year to practise in Ontario will jump to 90 from 36. ``We are trying to ensure that
excellent physician services are available to meet all of our community needs
throughout Ontario.'' He said the announcement represents a $1.4 million investment,
and will bring as many as 40 new foreign-trained physicians to underserved and rural
communities every year. The government has expanded the International Medical
Graduate Program by 14 positions, bringing the total to 50. The program gives
training to individuals who have undergraduate medical degrees and post-graduate
training outside Canada. As well, the government introduced a new accelerated program
to assess and train fully qualified foreign doctors. The six-month program will bring
as many as 40 new doctors each year to underserviced communities. The doctors must
sign contracts assuring they will work in designated under-serviced areas. If they
leave, they would face disciplinary action by the College of Physicians and Surgeons
of Ontario. The province faces a shortage of up to 1,000 physicians, according to a
report released in December, 1999. The province has long wanted to expand the
foreign-trained doctor program but faced resistance from the college, which had
concerns about quality and standards. Yesterday, a college spokesperson said those
concerns had been addressed. Clement said Ontario would not poach doctors from other
countries, even though the concern was raised recently in a report commissioned by
his ministry.
Toronto Star - June 15, 2001 Ontario to rush foreign MDs through licencing
Program will service doctor-starved rural areas, Tony Clement says
Experienced foreign doctors unable to practise in doctor-hungry Ontario because they
lack the credentials will be fast-tracked through the certification process, Health
Minister Tony Clement said Thursday. The province will spend $1.4 million to expand
certification programs to allow 90 new doctors a year to work in communities where
there is a shortage. ''Ontario will be the first province to implement a full
six-month assessment program with up to two years of post-graduate training for those
who require additional skills,'' he said. In addition, the number of doctors
certified under the existing International Medical Graduate will rise to 50 from 36,
he said. Doctors enrolled in the new program would be contractually obliged to
practice in the community experiencing the shortage for a set period of time. Those
who do not would risk disciplinary action by the College of Physicians and Surgeons,
Clement said. The length of their mandated stay in remote areas has yet to be
determined, he added.
Dr. Rocco Gerace, president of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario,
said he was satisfied the new program would benefit both patients and doctors.
''With this program we can continue to be the beneficiary of the contributions of
internationally trained physicians with the assurance of the high standards we
currently enjoy.'' Currently, between 1,200 and 1,400 doctors are trained in
Ontario each year. Gerace said one-quarter of all physicians in Ontario are
foreign-trained graduates. The Health Ministry was unable to estimate how many
foreign-trained doctors in Ontario are currently not working as physicians.
