Foreign-trained physicians need residency spots
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* Dina O'Meara

*   © 2004 Canadian Medical Association or its licensors

The federal government is spending $4 million over the next 3 years to bring more foreign-trained doctors into Canada's professional fold in the hope of alleviating the shortage of physicians. But the Medical Council of Canada (MCC) says residency spots are still lacking. 

Most of the money will be spent on expanding assessment and training, and developing national standards for testing and licensing (*CMAJ* 2003;168[9]: 1119-23). In concrete terms, the funding is expected to bring at least 100 international medical graduates (IMGs) into the health system. 

But the key obstacle IMGs now face is the lack of postgraduate positions, said Dr. Dale Dauphinee, executive director of the MCC and co-chair of a federal task force on IMG licensure. At least 600 IMGs have already passed provincial medical exams, but can't get residency placements. “I'm glad to have [the funding] … but increasing capacity still needs work,” Dauphinee said. “I'm still concerned that we don't have enough to cover the training.”

Dauphinee spoke at a Mar. 1 meeting in Calgary of the Canadian Taskforce on Licensure of IMGs. 

Licensed foreign-trained physicians represent an estimated 23% of Canada's medical working force. “The contribution has been huge,” said task force co-chair Dr. Rodney Crutcher, Alberta's IMG program director. “One of the challenges for us is to assess the skills of these docs and to do it in a way that is fair, that is transparent.”

Currently, each of the 10 provinces and 3 territories has its own medical systems and professional requirements for licensing, resulting in often conflicting policies that IMGs must sort through. 

The MCC will get $554 000 to support a consortium that will identify and promote common screening criteria for IMGs. It will also evaluate progress, and provide an online self-assessment and orientation program.

Three-quarters of the $4 million will be used to help the provinces and territories expand assessment programs for unlicensed IMGs.

In Quebec, the funding may not be enough to mitigate a current shortfall of 1000 doctors. Quebec recruited 64 foreign doctors on its own last year. Meanwhile, Ontario faces a shortage of up to 1500 physicians.

“Work is being done there, but for sure, work isn't complete,” said Crutcher. — *Dina O'Meara*, Calgary