CMAJ News
Physician mobility remains a “moving target”
F
aced with a June 2010 deadline recruit locations, and the movement of complete a “nationally acceptable com-
under the intergovernmental those doctors “into communities where prehensive clinical assessment.”
Agreement on Internal Trade, there are no systems to monitor their But whether the federation’s 13 col-
provincial medical regulatory colleges practice as there might have been in the leges will reach consensus on these
are struggling to find consensus on a jurisdiction where they are registered.” proposals is an open question, as is the
new set of rules to govern the mobility part to be played by provincial govern-
of doctors in Canada. ments that may have their own agendas
Discussions among the colleges have in terms of physician recruitment.
been “a moving target,” says Dr. Bryan Provinces, many of which have “a
Ward, president of the Federation of role to play in accepting the registration
Medical Regulatory Authorities of criteria of the colleges of physicians,”
Canada. “We’re starting to see accep- may also need to pass legislative and
tance that we should all try to achieve a regulatory measures to facilitate
common standard, which is not what change, Ward notes.
everybody believed a year ago.” Dr. Karl Stobbe, president of the
Physicians with full Canadian quali- Society of Rural Physicians of Canada,
fications who seek employment in is concerned that any agreement
another province have long been frus- reached by the regulatory colleges will
trated by the variety of hoops they must “fulfill the letter of the law” about free
pass through to obtain a licence to prac- movement but the net effect will be to
tise in other jurisdictions. maintain the status quo.
Meanwhile, many of the interna- Currently, standards for being
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tional medical graduates recruited to granted a full medical licence differ
rural and o