Mark O Baerlocher1. 1. Department of Medical Imaging, University of Toronto. mark.baerlocher@utoronto.ca
Abstract
PURPOSE: To examine the proportion of Canada's physicians who are foreign-trained (non-Canada, non-US), and to determine if there was a relationship between this number and the net change in physicians of each province as affected by inter-provincial migration. METHODS: Data were obtained from the Canadian Medical Association, based on information contained within the Southam Medical Database of the Canadian Institute for Health Information (1987-2003). Information on the net change in the number of physicians lost or gained due to inter-provincial migration was obtained for each province, as well as the percentage of physicians that are foreign-trained (non-Canada, non-US). A correlation between the net change in physician supply and the proportion of foreign-trained physicians was explored. RESULTS: Foreign-trained physicians comprised from 19% (Prince Edward Island) to 55% (Saskatchewan) of the provincial physician supply. There was a strong linear correlation between the net change in physician supply due to inter-provincial migration and the proportion of foreign-trained physicians (r2 0.546; P=0.0146). DISCUSSION: Canada continued to rely heavily on foreign-trained physicians. This was particularly true for provinces which lost the greatest number of physicians to inter-provincial migration. Such 'poaching' of physicians may have important ramifications for the source countries.
PURPOSE: To examine the proportion of Canada's physicians who are foreign-trained (non-Canada, non-US), and to determine if there was a relationship between this number and the net change in physicians of each province as affected by inter-provincial migration. METHODS: Data were obtained from the Canadian Medical Association, based on information contained within the Southam Medical Database of the Canadian Institute for Health Information (1987-2003). Information on the net change in the number of physicians lost or gained due to inter-provincial migration was obtained for each province, as well as the percentage of physicians that are foreign-trained (non-Canada, non-US). A correlation between the net change in physician supply and the proportion of foreign-trained physicians was explored. RESULTS: Foreign-trained physicians comprised from 19% (Prince Edward Island) to 55% (Saskatchewan) of the provincial physician supply. There was a strong linear correlation between the net change in physician supply due to inter-provincial migration and the proportion of foreign-trained physicians (r2 0.546; P=0.0146). DISCUSSION: Canada continued to rely heavily on foreign-trained physicians. This was particularly true for provinces which lost the greatest number of physicians to inter-provincial migration. Such 'poaching' of physicians may have important ramifications for the source countries.
Authors: Lena Dohlman; Matthew DiMeglio; Jihane Hajj; Krzysztof Laudanski Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2019-04-02 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Kathryn Hodwitz; Niels Thakkar; Susan E Schultz; Liisa Jaakkimainen; Daniel Faulkner; Wendy Yen Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2019-06-11 Impact factor: 2.692