The Conservative leader calls it “common sense”. It is rather a revolution that he proposes.
Facilitate the recognition of the skills of foreign doctors and nurses and offer them the opportunity to take a national exam. Period.
The proposal will certainly hit the wall of provincial jurisdictions, not to mention those of the various corporations of health professionals.
And yet, it’s hard not to rejoice to finally see a politician tackle such a sacred cow.
Road to Damascus
In its video clip, the College of Physicians warns foreign candidates that “the process can be long and does not guarantee the issuance of a license to practice”. Nice understatement.
The College is already working on a fast track to make it easier for applicants. But while Quebec is the province that receives the fewest foreign doctors in the country, we have the right to wonder if this is enough.
It’s hard to imagine that Quebec would embark on the adventure of a single national certification like the one proposed by the Conservative leader. Here, we protect our ways!
Debate
If the Canadian Medical Association supports the idea of Pierre Poilievre, it is not said that it would adequately protect patients.
It is not because we can describe a cesarean section in an examination that we know how to succeed in an emergency when the life of mother and baby weighs in the balance.
Nevertheless, the Conservative leader’s crusade against those he describes as “the guardians of the temple” has the virtue of forcing, even in Quebec, the debate on the recognition of foreign health diplomas.
For how long will we allow administrative pitfalls to deprive the health sector of the expertise it needs?
Instead of hindering the integration of these professionals into the network, we must find innovative ways to facilitate it.