International doctors struggle to practice in Canada due to COVID

For many foreign doctors, transferring credentials to the Canadian medical system is an incredibly daunting process that has been exacerbated by the pandemic.

Sikinder Singh Kang, an interim physiotherapist is one of many international medical graduates in Canada, who is going through the process of getting his credentials recognized. He says because of COVID, the end of the road feels incredibly far away.

“I did a masters in physiotherapy in India… Because of COVID, the exams got postponed. And sometimes it got cancelled – it’s been cancelled five times until now,” Kang said in an interview with OMNI Television.

To practice medicine in Canada, doctors must have a recognized medical degree and pass qualifying exams. Canadians and permanent residents who attended an international medical school have been lobbying provincial governments to change the requirements that prevent the majority of them from getting residencies, the training positions required before they can work independently.

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While the federal government can’t bring back the last two years, it has announced around $2.7 million in funding to speed up the process and in recognizing newcomers with foreign healthcare credentials. Some of that money is going towards organizations that train physiotherapists and practical nurses.

“It’s welcome news that the federal government is starting to acknowledge the degree to which that trained, qualified, capable and eager internationally-trained medical professionals who are in Canada are not able to practice their trade. But as far as a response to the problem goes, this is very, very far from sufficient,” said Daniel Berthard, CEO of the Institute for Canadian Citizenship.

In a new joint-poll with Leger, it found one of the main things keeping new Canadians from recommending Canada to immigrants was the challenge of foreign work experience not being recognized.

“We’ve all heard of about the health care labour shortage especially with doctors and nurses. And the truth of the matter is, this labour shortage is artificial. It’s not real. People are qualified, they are trained, they are here, they are ready to work – and short of major political will and investment on the part of the provinces, Canadian patients are going to continue to suffer from a lack of qualified care,” Berthard explained.

The new funding is part of the foreign credential recognition program, which funds various organizations to speed up the accreditation processes, and provides loans and employment supports to newcomers in their field of expertise.

Berthard says all levels of government need to get serious about how they’re addressing healthcare labour shortages.

“This announcement is not even a drop in the ocean of the health care system of Canada.”

– With files from Prabhjot Kahlon