Canada Launches Express Entry for Foreign Doctors Amid Physician Shortage

Ottawa has unveiled a new “express entry” program aimed at foreign-trained doctors to help address the critical shortage of family physicians across Canada. Announced on October 23, 2023, the initiative targets internationally trained doctors who possess at least one year of Canadian work experience within the last three years. The program’s introduction comes in the wake of a growing need for primary care professionals in a country where an estimated 5.9 million Canadians lack access to a regular family doctor, nurse practitioner, or primary care team.

According to Dr. Margot Burnell, president of the Canadian Medical Association (CMA), the express entry program is just one strategy to mitigate the current healthcare gap. In a conversation with CTV’s Your Morning, Burnell emphasized the necessity for additional measures, stating, “We need to increase training spots. We need to retain those individuals working with us. So this is one approach.”

Current estimates suggest that Canada is short approximately 23,000 family physicians. The CMA, in collaboration with St. Michael’s Hospital, conducted a survey revealing the extent of the problem. The express entry program aims to expedite the work permit process for nominated doctors, reducing the typical wait time from years to just 14 days.

Each province and territory will have access to 5,000 federal admission spots to nominate licensed doctors who have job opportunities available. This allocation is in addition to the existing Provincial Nominee Program, which allows provinces to attract skilled workers to fill local labor shortages.

Burnell noted that foreign-trained doctors nominated under the new program will need to work with provincial colleges to have their qualifications assessed. This assessment may involve additional training or supervised evaluations of their practice capabilities. “We want to ensure that these graduates and trainees meet our current standards and are safe to enter the workforce,” she explained.

The CMA plans to monitor the effectiveness of the express entry program in the coming year. Burnell stated, “We’ll be looking to see how many physicians take this opportunity and will be looking to see if access to care for patients improves across the country with this initiative.”

The launch of this program marks a significant step in addressing the pressing healthcare challenges faced by Canadians. However, as highlighted by Burnell, a multifaceted approach is crucial for achieving long-term solutions to the physician shortage.