Eves opens doors for foreign-trained
doctors
Ernie Eves, Ontario’s Premier and Tony Clement, Minister of
Health and Long-Term Care, have unveiled a new eight-point plan that
will add more than 650 new physicians, mainly international medical
graduates (IMGs) to the health care system over the next five years. Next
year, it is expected that the plan will enable up to 150 new IMGs to
provide medical service in Ontario.
There are too many qualified, foreign-trained doctors already
living in Ontario who have been forced to sit on the sidelines of our
health care system,” Eves said. “By removing barriers and providing
more training opportunities, we will more than double the number of
foreign-trained doctors practicing in Ontario and significantly improve
access to front-line health care.”
The Eves government’s new eight-point plan is designed to address
a growing need for doctors. It will provide both immediate and a long-term
improvement to physician access. It will:
·
Create
110 new postgraduate training positions; mainly for IMGs, which will allow
those in need of additional training to become licensed;
·
Set
up a new, Fast Track Assessment pilot program to assess IMGs currently
practicing outside Ontario. The program will target doctors in specialty
areas of highest need or those who are willing to practice in
underserviced areas – as well as osteopaths who are qualified to provide
medical services;
·
Develop
an IMG resource office that will act as a centralized application centre
for easy access for all foreign-trained doctors;
·
Establish
a human resources planning body for the health care system; and
·
New
physicians, who graduate through the assessment program for IMGs, will be
required to commit to practice for up to a five-year period in an
under-serviced area.
“The
Eves government has listened to public concern about the supply of doctors
and is responding with this plan to increase patient access now and for
the future,” said Clement. “Today’s announcement will significantly
shorten the process that foreign-trained doctors must go through to
practice in Ontario. By fast-tracking the process, we will ensure
thousands more Ontarians will have better access to the doctors they
need.”
The new plan responds to recommendations from a task force
sponsored by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario. The task
force was asked to develop methods to overcome barriers and expand
opportunities for doctors (particularly IMGs) who want to practice in
Ontario.
“We are delighted to have the government
support for the success of this important initiative to improve access to
caring competent doctors in Ontario.” Said Dr. Bienenstock,
President of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario. “We
applaud the government’s pledge to implement the innovative solutions of
the College’s Task Force to address current and future health care needs
without compromising standards.”