b'HEALTH CARE SPOTLIGHTGLOBAL APPROACH TOHEALTH CAREBy Anna-Liza BadalooProvinces increasingly look to foreign talentto solve the countrys health-care labour crunchL ong before the pandemic hit,To address this perfect storm, Ottawa hasfrom abroad to practise in Canada. While Canada had been experiencing ataken steps to attract more internation- immigration is regulated at the federal serious shortage of doctors, nursesally trained health-care workers. Last yearlevel, health care is regulated by the prov-and other skilled health-carethe federal government announced $1.5inces, and this jurisdictional divide has professionals. In 2019, a reportedmillion in spending to help foreign-trainedoften resulted in skilled health-care workers 4.6 million Canadians did not have regularhealth-care workers with recognition ofbeing allowed into the country but not access to a primary care provider. This istheir credentials, and it also issued a callallowed to put their skills to work.especially concerning as low or no access tofor project proposals to help foreign-trained family doctors increases emergency depart- health professionals work in Canada.The stereotype of foreign-trained doctors ment visits, thus overwhelming other partsIn addition, it expanded the number ofdriving taxis because their credentials are of an already burdened system.categories in the health sector under thenot accepted is still all too common. Its As well, Canadas population is aging,Express Entry Federal Skilled Workera lost opportunity for individuals, and lost which means more health-care sector(FSW) program to include nurse aides intellectual capital for Canadian society, employees retiring right when we haveand orderlies.explains CERC president Stephen Cryne. an aging patient population that requiresFor their part, provinces have started toOur workforce is aging rapidly, and our more care. There is also the fact that manyleverage the skills of foreign-trained health- population is growing. Now, policymakers health-care professionals retired early or leftcare workers though their own initiatives.and thought leaders are coming to the the profession altogether due to burnoutThey are starting to recognize that barriersconclusion that we have to reducefrom the COVID-19 pandemic. need to be reduced to allow professionalsthe barriers.24PERSPECTIVES Summer 2023'