The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) has issued a call to action for the federal government to address significant challenges within Canada’s healthcare system. This appeal follows a recent meeting among federal, provincial, and territorial health ministers, where key issues affecting healthcare delivery were discussed.
During this meeting, topics included improving access to medications, streamlining the licensing process for internationally trained healthcare professionals, and expanding services for mental health and addiction. Additionally, the ministers addressed the necessity for modernizing healthcare data and responding to global public health threats like measles outbreaks. Despite these discussions, the CMA expressed disappointment that no concrete action plans emerged from the gathering.
Dr. Margot Burnell, president of the CMA, emphasized the need for increased funding for primary care teams. She advocated for a provincial memorandum of understanding to facilitate physician mobility across provinces. “We were hoping they would come out with that,” Burnell stated. “We would like to see a streamlined pathway for immigration for our internationally medically trained doctors.”
The issue of physician shortages is particularly pressing, as hundreds of thousands of Canadians currently lack a family doctor. According to Dr. Burnell, models from the United States and Australia suggest that implementing a multi-jurisdictional licensure pathway could enhance access to healthcare services by approximately 10 to 15 percent.
Another critical concern highlighted by Burnell was the absence of discussions regarding a coordinated immunization program. “We know that vaccinations save lives, so that’s very important,” she noted. “We’ve seen the measles outbreak, we’ve seen loss of lives from that, so that really is a very important public health concern.”
A recent report on Canada’s future health workforce underscores the urgent need for healthcare professionals. The study indicates that Canada requires an additional 23,000 family physicians, a 49 percent increase from current levels. Furthermore, it suggests the necessity for 14,000 licensed nurses and 28,000 registered nurses, along with an increased number of nurse practitioners and occupational therapists, to meet the growing demands of the population.
As the CMA continues to push for reforms, the urgency of addressing these challenges remains paramount in ensuring that all Canadians have access to quality healthcare.
