Canada’s healthcare system offers job opportunities for more than 1 million people, and many more are available. About 40% of these workers are above 55 years of age, meaning many healthcare workers retire yearly, giving more room for opportunities for immigrant workers.
Canada has a relatively high population growth rate. However, Canada does not produce enough healthcare workers to meet the needs of its population, making it dependent on immigrant workers.
Immigrant workers are also needed to integrate a diverse workforce for the immigrant population in Canada.
Demand for Immigrants
There is a growing demand for immigrant doctors in Canada. This is why every healthcare sector has at least one immigrant out of every four people in Canada’s healthcare system.
According to the Statistics Canada 2016 Census, immigrants make up;
- Pharmacists (37%)
- Nurse aides and related occupations (35%)
- Physicians (36%)
- 23% of registered nurses
- 39% of dentists
- Dental technologists and some other related occupations (54%)
However, according to CBC News, immigrants who have been trained in their home countries, known as International Medical Graduates (IMGs), have difficulty obtaining a medical residency in Canada. This could be due to the reduced number of quotas allocated to immigrants. Also, these immigrant graduates struggle with obtaining a medical residency because the medical residency system is run by medical schools that would oblige them to provide medical residency programs for their graduates. The demand for immigrant doctors is currently on the high side.
According to a January story from CBC News, the interest of Canada’s medical students in certain aspects of medicine, including family medicine, has declined.
A statistical analysis by the Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS) report cited by CBC News showed that there has been a significant decline in the number and percentage of Canadian medical graduates choosing family medicine by 7% in the past 9 years. This indicates a significant demand for immigrant doctors to bridge the gaps in Canada’s healthcare system.
The Negligible Growth in Medical Residencies
According to past reports, Canada allows only 167 more immigrant doctors to undergo mandatory postgraduate training compared to the number of admissions a decade ago. The negligible growth in medical residences is due to the expectation that there will be a need for nearly 49,000 more family specialists by 2031. The Federal government, however, indicates that the situation is complicated. Therefore, providing satisfactory training and licensing for doctors in Canada’s healthcare system is essential.
However, several provincial governments are making significant efforts to address this challenging situation. The government is addressing this by soon increasing the capacity for medical school admissions. The provinces and territories are also responsible for improving the healthcare system.
The growing demand for immigrant doctors in Canada has led to additional measures to combat this situation. The federal government of Canada is looking forward to receiving more immigrant doctors with training in their home countries. The government plans to achieve this through Express Entry category–based draws, which help in the immigration process of foreign doctors.
International Medical Graduates
The Canadian healthcare organizations call medical practitioners trained in their home country IMGs(international medical graduates).
This includes medical practitioners who;
- May have completed a residency training program
- Maybe from a country with a medical education system similar to Canada’s
- May have just recently completed medical school
- May have started practicing immediately without needing to complete a residency
- May possess several years of independent practice experience in their home country
- May come from a country with a medical education system that significantly differs from Canada’s.
Before you begin your licensing process in Canada, you need to know that:
- Obtaining a license to practice in Canada is not assured.
- The licensure process involves multiple stages and can appear complicated to those unfamiliar with the Canadian system.
- Registration processes vary between provinces and territories.
- Pursuing licensure demands a substantial financial and personal commitment.
Registration to Practice Medicine in Canada
1. To practice medicine or any medical-related field in Canada, you need an acceptable MD (medical doctor)or medical degree granted by an approved university.
2. The Medical Council of Canada’s PCRC (Physician Credentials Repository) must approve and verify your medical degree. Depending on the organization you apply for, you must send the required documents to the repository. Documents from the repository can be stored and shared with as many organizations as possible.
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3. While applying for a medical license in Canada as an immigrant, it is important that you pass the MCCEE (Medical Council of Canada Evaluating Examination). This examination will help determine your eligibility for the license.
4. Immigrant medical graduates whose countries do not speak English or French must provide proof of language proficiency. This may involve taking the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), TSE (Test of Spoken English), or IELTS (International English Language Testing System).
5. Immigrant medical graduates must complete accredited postgraduate residency training to be able to take the certification exams.
The duration of residency training in an accredited medical school is:
- Two years for family medicine
- It takes four to five years for other specialties to be qualified to be a part of Canada’s healthcare system.
Residents are to practice with an educational license and with proper supervision.
As an immigrant medical graduate, you are expected to complete clinical training or assessment with proper supervision to meet the requirements for a license in Canada. The healthcare system is one of the top priority areas in Canada, reflecting the nation’s commitment to ensuring the well-being of its residents. As the population grows, there will always be a demand for immigrant doctors, especially family doctors. This increase in demand is because of a noticeable decline in interest among Canadian doctors in pursuing careers in family medicine. Consequently, the country increasingly depends on immigrant doctors to fill these essential roles.
Conclusion
Immigrant doctors or international medical graduates (IMGs) who plan to practice in Canada must be prepared to meet the required training and licensing requirements. Completing residency training in their home country is a crucial step in ensuring they have the necessary skills and knowledge to contribute effectively to Canada’s healthcare system. The demand for immigrant doctors in Canada is on the high.
