The Canadian government could end the shortage of doctors and nurses in the country by making it easier for health care practitioners who immigrate to get their qualifications here, Pitt Meadows-Maple Ridge MP Marc Dalton said in Parliament recently.

Dalton said six million Canadians donB次元官网网址檛 have a family doctor, and many more are forced into long waits, B次元官网网址渟ometimes years,B次元官网网址� for health care, because of staffing shortages.

B次元官网网址淲e donB次元官网网址檛 have enough doctors, we donB次元官网网址檛 have enough nurses. It doesnB次元官网网址檛 have to be this way,B次元官网网址� he said.

In the House of Commons he referred to 20,000 immigrant doctors and 30,000 nurses who are not able to practise due to the B次元官网网址渕aze of regulations.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淭he human anatomy is the same across the world,B次元官网网址� he noted.

Dalton told The B次元官网网址 he raised the issue after meeting an abdominal surgeon from Ukraine who could not get his qualifications recognized in Canada, and is instead starting his own business.

The doctor he referred to is Maple Ridge resident Bill Jakobs. The former surgeon told The B次元官网网址 it would take about six years for him to become a doctor in Canada, despite his schooling and past experience. The schooling he needs would have been costly, as well as time consuming, and as the primary breadwinner for his family, Jakobs was forced to move in another direction.

He had volunteered as a doctor with the UN, working with patients with AIDS and drug addiction. He has expertise in logistics and the global supply chain, and is now setting up a business that uses those skills.

Jakobs sees an ailing health care system in Canada. He now has experience as a patient needing health care, and being put on a waiting list.

B次元官网网址淚t can be hard to get to a doctor, or a specialist surgeon B次元官网网址� it takes forever.B次元官网网址�

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JakobsB次元官网网址� father was a surgeon. His 16-year-old son is considering medicine, potentially following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, but Jakobs said it is a difficult decision, because of the time and expense to become a doctor, and lack of work-life balance for physicians.

B次元官网网址淚 heard a lot of discouragement, talking to professionals here,B次元官网网址� he said.

Dalton said the Conservative opposition proposes a national blue seal testing centre, where professionals immigrating could get an examination, and they would know within 60 days whether or not they can work in Canada.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a big deal B次元官网网址� it impacts everyone,B次元官网网址� Dalton said. B次元官网网址淚mmigrant doctors and nurses could really fill a big gap.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淭he regulatory requirements and red tape is so big, so cumbersome, that itB次元官网网址檚 a tremendous challenge,B次元官网网址� said Dalton. B次元官网网址淐anadians lose out, because we have a doctor and nurse shortage, and itB次元官网网址檚 a felt need.B次元官网网址�

The Doctors of BC, an association of physicians, residents and medical students, says it supports the proposal to bring in a new national standard for medical licensing, but itB次元官网网址檚 skeptical about the feasibility of the suggested strategy.

President Joshua Greggain says the organization is in full support of Conservative Leader Pierre PoilievreB次元官网网址檚 recent call to improve and speed up healthcare professionalsB次元官网网址� integration around Canada.

B次元官网网址淣ational licensure and portability between provinces would be a really good thing to help the physician supply as well as the nurses,B次元官网网址� Greggain said.

For it to happen, he says it would take national collaboration, and that would not happen quickly enough to solve the current shortages.

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