Health Minister Audrey Gordon announced that the Manitoba government has approved regulatory changes that allow internationally educated physicians to enter the health-care workforce sooner.
“We are leaving no stone unturned to strengthen our health system for Manitobans,” said Gordon. “We worked with the governing body of physicians in Manitoba to streamline the path, reduce barriers and enable internationally trained physicians to provide care sooner in alignment with our government’s $200-million Health Human Resource Action Plan.”
Amendments to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba (CPSM) General Regulation remove the requirement for internationally educated physicians in specific membership classes to pass the Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Exam Part 1 (MCCQE1) before registering and practising in Manitoba.
Internationally educated physicians who apply for provisional registration in Manitoba already have medical degrees and have completed residency programs with certifying exams, while the MCCQE1 only assesses the medical knowledge and clinical decision-making ability of candidates at a level expected of a medical student.
“This change allows us to recruit more physicians to Manitoba while maintaining high competency levels. The exam was holding back many qualified, internationally trained physicians from coming to the province,” said Dr. Anna Ziomek, registrar, CPSM. “From a regulatory standpoint, we must take all steps possible to eliminate barriers to assessment without compromising quality and patient safety.”
Eliminating this exam requirement removes a significant and unnecessary barrier for those seeking to practise in Manitoba without compromising patient safety and care, the minister noted, adding that existing processes and policies will continue to support patient safety and care including competence assessments and practice supervision requirements.
