In a groundbreaking move to address Canada’s persistent physician shortage, Prince Edward Island has partnered with McMaster University to launch an innovative program designed to help foreign-trained doctors practice medicine in Canada. The initiative, announced Thursday, represents one of the most comprehensive approaches yet to integrating international medical graduates into our healthcare system.
The program will initially welcome 10 internationally educated physicians currently residing in P.E.I. who have been unable to secure Canadian medical licensing despite their qualifications. These doctors, many of whom have years of experience in their home countries, will undergo specialized training at McMaster University’s renowned medical school while maintaining their residence in P.E.I.
“This is about recognizing the untapped potential sitting right in our communities,” said Dr. Eleanor Sullivan, P.E.I.’s Minister of Health and Wellness. “We have highly qualified physicians living here, sometimes working in completely unrelated fields, while our healthcare system desperately needs more doctors.”
The program addresses one of the most significant barriers facing foreign-trained doctors: navigating Canada’s complex licensing requirements. International medical graduates must typically pass multiple examinations, complete residency training, and overcome numerous bureaucratic hurdles before they can practice—a process that can take years and cost tens of thousands of dollars.
McMaster University’s involvement brings substantial credibility to the initiative. The Hamilton-based institution has developed a tailored curriculum that focuses on familiarizing international doctors with Canadian healthcare protocols, medical ethics, and cultural competencies while recognizing their existing medical knowledge.
“These are already trained physicians,” explained Dr. Paul O’Byrne, Dean of McMaster’s Faculty of Health Sciences. “Our role isn’t to teach them medicine from scratch but to help them adapt their skills to the Canadian context and prepare them for our licensing examinations.”
The economic implications of the program extend beyond healthcare. Studies show that each practicing physician generates approximately $2.1 million in economic activity annually while supporting an average of five additional jobs in the community.
For participants like Dr. Amina Patel, who practiced internal medicine in India for eight years before immigrating to Canada three years ago, the program offers hope. “I’ve been working as a laboratory technician since arriving here,” she said. “Having the opportunity to practice medicine again—to use my training and help patients—means everything.”
P.E.I., Canada’s smallest province, faces particularly acute healthcare challenges, with nearly 30,000 residents—almost 18% of the population—lacking access to a family doctor. If successful, provincial officials hope to expand the program in coming years.
The initiative comes amid growing national recognition that integrating international medical graduates must be part of the solution to Canada’s healthcare crisis. Similar programs are being considered in British Columbia, Manitoba, and Newfoundland and Labrador.
“This isn’t just about filling immediate vacancies,” noted Dr. Michael Warren, healthcare policy analyst at the Canadian Medical Association. “It’s about creating sustainable pathways for qualified international physicians to contribute to our healthcare system for decades to come.”
The first cohort will begin their training in January 2024, with participants expected to be ready for provisional licensing within 18 months. The program includes clinical placements in rural P.E.I. communities where physician shortages are most severe.
As Canada continues to grapple with growing healthcare demands amid an aging population, one question remains central to our national conversation: why has it taken so long to create streamlined pathways for thousands of qualified international physicians already living within our borders?
