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 don香蕉视频直播檛 have a family doctor, and many more are forced into long waits, 香蕉视频直播渟ometimes years,香蕉视频直播� for health care, because of staffing shortages.

香蕉视频直播淲e don香蕉视频直播檛 have enough doctors, we don香蕉视频直播檛 have enough nurses. It doesn香蕉视频直播檛 have to be this way,香蕉视频直播� 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 香蕉视频直播渕aze of regulations.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淭he human anatomy is the same across the world,香蕉视频直播� he noted.

Dalton told The News 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 News 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.

香蕉视频直播淚t can be hard to get to a doctor, or a specialist surgeon 香蕉视频直播� it takes forever.香蕉视频直播�

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Jakobs香蕉视频直播� 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.

香蕉视频直播淚 heard a lot of discouragement, talking to professionals here,香蕉视频直播� 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.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 a big deal 香蕉视频直播� it impacts everyone,香蕉视频直播� Dalton said. 香蕉视频直播淚mmigrant doctors and nurses could really fill a big gap.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淭he regulatory requirements and red tape is so big, so cumbersome, that it香蕉视频直播檚 a tremendous challenge,香蕉视频直播� said Dalton. 香蕉视频直播淐anadians lose out, because we have a doctor and nurse shortage, and it香蕉视频直播檚 a felt need.香蕉视频直播�

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 it香蕉视频直播檚 skeptical about the feasibility of the suggested strategy.

President Joshua Greggain says the organization is in full support of Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre香蕉视频直播檚 recent call to improve and speed up healthcare professionals香蕉视频直播� integration around Canada.

香蕉视频直播淣ational licensure and portability between provinces would be a really good thing to help the physician supply as well as the nurses,香蕉视频直播� 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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