Canadian Health Care: Physician Shortage
Health Care: Physician Shortage in Canada
Hailey Cheema
Heritage Park Secondary School
English 11
“Studies state 4.4 million Canadians do not have a family doctor; 800,000 of those do not have a place to go for regular medical care” (Picard, 2012, para.5). Canadian physician shortage is an ongoing and serious issue across the country. Canada remains to have one of the longest waiting lists, supply of doctors, and low levels of medical advancements (Hurtig, 2008). Government restrictions, the Canadian health care system, and medical schools are all primary factors of physician shortage in Canada.
Government restrictions on qualifying foreign doctors, medical school requirements, and MD student programs have become a rising issue. Canadian government lacks to establish programs to integrate foreign doctors into our health care system. Foreign trained doctors ranging from India, Italy, Pakistan, China, France, and Germany are denied a physician license in Canada. The government fails to neither assess nor organize training programs for these physicians; able to assist in health care shortages across the country (Esmail, 2011). Government restrictions have denied residency and ‘license to practice’ of international trained physicians for lengthy periods up to 10+ years (National Film Board of Canada, 2012). Unfortunately this group of physicians are forced to work minimum wage and degraded jobs, although acquiring all requirements and degrees to perform in Canada. The government of Canada has raised not only tuition/student fees but requirements of MD school in Canada. Issues arise when instead, international MD schools accept admission of Canadian medical students; doctors whom should practice/aid in our country are forced outwards. Canadian students whom have
studied abroad, attempting to return and acquire residency in Canada are rejected for lengthy periods; in direct correlation to international
Hailey Cheema
Heritage Park Secondary School
English 11
“Studies state 4.4 million Canadians do not have a family doctor; 800,000 of those do not have a place to go for regular medical care” (Picard, 2012, para.5). Canadian physician shortage is an ongoing and serious issue across the country. Canada remains to have one of the longest waiting lists, supply of doctors, and low levels of medical advancements (Hurtig, 2008). Government restrictions, the Canadian health care system, and medical schools are all primary factors of physician shortage in Canada.
Government restrictions on qualifying foreign doctors, medical school requirements, and MD student programs have become a rising issue. Canadian government lacks to establish programs to integrate foreign doctors into our health care system. Foreign trained doctors ranging from India, Italy, Pakistan, China, France, and Germany are denied a physician license in Canada. The government fails to neither assess nor organize training programs for these physicians; able to assist in health care shortages across the country (Esmail, 2011). Government restrictions have denied residency and ‘license to practice’ of international trained physicians for lengthy periods up to 10+ years (National Film Board of Canada, 2012). Unfortunately this group of physicians are forced to work minimum wage and degraded jobs, although acquiring all requirements and degrees to perform in Canada. The government of Canada has raised not only tuition/student fees but requirements of MD school in Canada. Issues arise when instead, international MD schools accept admission of Canadian medical students; doctors whom should practice/aid in our country are forced outwards. Canadian students whom have
studied abroad, attempting to return and acquire residency in Canada are rejected for lengthy periods; in direct correlation to international