Harper Government helping internationally educated health professionals work in Canada

Improving access to quality health services for Canadian families 

TORONTO, March 13, 2015 /CNW/ - Today, the Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Health and Member of Parliament for Pickering-Scarborough, Corneliu Chisu, announced almost $8.4 million in federal funding for several initiatives that support bringing internationally educated health professionals into the Canadian health workforce so that Canadian families can have better access to quality healthcare services.

Across Canada, access to health professionals continues to be a challenge. Approximately 4.6 million Canadians are without a regular family doctor. At the same time, there are around 10,000 newcomers to Canada that are health related professionals. Many of these individuals face obstacles in finding jobs that best match their skills and experience.

This support will help prepare doctors and other health professionals for the Canadian workforce. These initiatives complement the Government of Canada's wider support for improving foreign credential recognition.

Federal funding for internationally educated health professionals reaffirms the Government of Canada's commitment to strengthening the healthcare system by working with provinces, territories and healthcare professionals to improve access to quality care for Canadians and their families.

Quick Facts

• Since 2006, Canada has welcomed an annual average of more than 250,000 immigrants, the highest sustained level of immigration in Canadian history.
• The Government of Canada is providing $8.2 million under Health Canada's Internationally Educated Health Professionals Initiative to the Government of Ontario for three initiatives supporting internationally educated health professionals and their potential employers. This project will be implemented in partnership by HealthForceOntario and the University of Toronto.
• Funding of $150,000 has also been provided to the Medical Council of Canada for a project to help prepare international medical graduates as they move into the health workforce.
• Since 2005/06, the Government of Canada has invested approximately $18 million a year in the Internationally Educated Health Professionals initiative (IEHPI) to assist the integration of international health professionals into the Canadian workforce.

Quotes

"Our Government recognizes the importance of having internationally educated health professionals in the health workforce. With thousands of new Canadians arriving to Canada every year, we want to ensure that we effectively integrate doctors and nurses into the Canadian health workforce. Today's investment makes better use of the talent that is already in Canada and showcases the steps we're taking to provide Canadians with increased access to health professionals and quality health care services wherever they live."
Rona Ambrose
Minister of Health

Associated Links
Health Canada - Internationally Educated Health Professionals (IEHP)
Government of Ontario – HealthForceOntario
University of Toronto
Medical Council of Canada

SOURCE Health Canada