There is a rising demand for immigrant doctors in Canada’s healthcare field. Over the last decade, Canada’s population has escalated to a massive level, with more than five million people. During this entire period, Canada has only introduced 167 medical residencies. In addition, this has led to challenging times for Canadians seeking easy accessibility to a family doctor on a regular basis.
A rising demand for immigrant doctors in Canada’s healthcare field
In the latter half of January, a report stated that over 6.5 million Canadians need consistent access to a family doctor. Canada’s population growth and several factors have led to the lack of family doctors. As a result of this, several Canadians had to face severe challenges.
Therefore, the Canadian government is trying to welcome more immigrant healthcare professionals with the necessary education. This is happening at both the federal and provincial levels.
The existing hurdles for International Medical Graduates
The Canadian government’s data for December 2022 show that one out of four healthcare workers in Canada is an immigrant.
In addition, immigrants contribute to the following percentage of all healthcare employees in this country:
- Registered Nurses – 23 percent;
- Nurse Aides and associated professions – 35 percent;
- Pharmacists – 37 percent;
- Physicians – 36 percent;
- Dentists – 39 percent;
- Dental technologies and related professions – 54 percent
Even after this, International Medical Graduates tend to face many challenges while acquiring medical residency in this country. These challenges often arise due to the quotas on the number of IMGs who can secure a slot. Additionally, these IMGs tend to face challenges while medically practicing in Canada. This is due to the residency system prevalent here as the medical schools that encourage their graduates.
CMA’s president confirms that the above is an ongoing issue in the Canadian healthcare system. There is a lack of sufficient Canadian doctors to fulfill the country’s health requirements.
Hence, Canada’s demand for healthcare workers with international training is not being met as IMGs suffer unique problems.
Canada invests in foreign credential recognition to overcome the issues of IMGs
Canada not only looks forward to welcoming more eligible healthcare professionals in Canada but also seeks to invest in foreign credential recognition. The ESDC report from January introduced a plan, offering $86 million as funding to 15 organizations in Canada. According to ESDC, the funding will help increase the foreign credential recognition capacity of around 6600 healthcare professionals with international education. Furthermore, it will support highly qualified and skilled immigrants in acquiring adequate recognition for their international credentials.
The reasons behind Canada’s shortage of family doctors
Canada is witnessing a massive level of population growth. This also implies the most rapid population growth in the third quarter of 2023 compared to any quarter since 1957. However, there are several reasons behind Canada’s lack of family doctors. They’re as follows:
A deteriorating interest in family medicine among Canada’s medical graduates
A recent report surfaced in January claims that the interest is gradually reducing in family medicine among the country’s medical graduates. The Canadian Resident Matching Service report confirmed that the share of graduates who chose family medicine during their residency training has deteriorated by more than seven percent in the previous nine years. Around 37.8 percent of graduates selected family medicine in 2014 compared to 30.3 percent of such individuals in 2023.
Furthermore, the Canadian Medical Association’s data suggests that approximately 1,000 family doctors are exiting this profession annually, compared to the new individuals entering the healthcare workforce.
The director of the Canada Health Workforce Network revealed that an increasing number of family doctors are acquiring credentials to work in sports medicine, emergency, and anesthesiology. As a result, they drift away from the clinic workplace.
All the above factors dictate that most Canadians seem less interested in this discipline. Therefore, the country is facing an acute challenge in consistently offering accessible family doctors.
The negligible growth in medical residencies
According to previous reports, Canada allows only 167 more immigrant doctors for compulsory postgraduate training compared to the number of admissions a decade ago. Federal data claims that the above scenario is complicated. This is due to predictions confirming a need to close 49,000 more family doctors by 2031.
However, a few federal governments are trying hard to overcome this challenging situation. The government is doing so by expanding medical school admission capacity shortly.
The provinces and territories are equally responsible for improving the healthcare system. Hence, they must be able to provide adequate Physician training and licensing.
A rising demand for immigrant doctors in Canada’s healthcare field has led to additional measures to combat this situation
The federal government of Canada is not just investing in foreign credential recognition; it is also looking forward to receiving more doctors with international training. The federal government plans to do the same through Express Entry category-based draws.
Launched in May 2023, these category-based selection draws will bring more foreign national workers with recent experience in the chief sectors. Healthcare is one of the five major occupations on Canada’s priority list.
Lastly, medical institutions in three Canadian provinces at the provincial level are expanding the capacity for medical training. They are also trying to develop more medical training schools.
A look at the three provinces
- Ontario – In the following five years, Ontario will look forward to adding 449 additional post-graduate medical training slots. Out of these spots, 154 will take effect digitally later in 2024. These online slots will be available at different medical schools in Ontario.
- Prince Edward Island – The University of PEI will establish a new medical school by October 2025.
- British Columbia – Simon Fraser University in British Columbia declared its objective to establish a new medical school at the Surrey Campus in 2026.
If you seek information on how to begin your Canada immigration application process, you can talk to our MakeHomeCanada experts at 1-800-979-0509, or you can drop us an email at [email protected].
