Dr. Inkpen, president of the Federation of Medical Regulatory Authorities of Canada (FMRAC)
says we do not have a shortage of physicians in Canada to deal with the pandemic, “nor is there one anticipated.”
However, should that change, there is a plan in place to fill the gap. First, provincial regulators would offer temporary licences to recently-retired physicians, then to senior residents who are currently employed in our healthcare system. They are also planning to allow physicians to work in other provinces, if necessary.
“We have the mandate of public protection and patient safety,” said Dr. Inkpen, which is why accelerating the licencing of IMGs is not a priority at this time.
“A physician whose competency and training has not been assessed … would need to be under supervision, would need to have a physician overseeing what he or she does,” she said. “In pandemic times, that is very very difficult to do.”
Read the article and listen to the complete interview here