Begum: Ford turns away new doctors with health care system in crisis

QUEEN’S PARK — The Ford government’s recent changes to International Medical Graduate (IMG) eligibility restrictions will see internationally-trained doctors restricted from first-round residency, despite warnings from medical experts that this will lead to unfilled residencies and longer patient wait times.

MPP Doly Begum (Scarborough Southwest), Deputy Leader of Ontario’s Official Opposition, held the Conservatives’ feet to the fire over the issue during today’s Question Period.

“More than 2.5 million Ontarians are already without a family doctor, and the Ontario Medical Association warns this number could rise to 4.4 million by 2026,” said Begum. “International medical graduates fill more than 60 per cent of family medicine residency spots, but this government is making it harder for these highly educated graduates by imposing a high school requirement for their first-round residency."

Critics of Ford’s IMG restrictions have referred to the change as discriminatory, saying it could see qualified candidates take their talents elsewhere.

“The chair of OMA’s family practice has warned that family medicine programs will be hit hard since they rely heavily on internationally trained doctors. Why is the government ignoring experts and preventing qualified doctors from serving the millions of Ontarians who need them?”

Ontario New Democrats continue to advocate for health care workers, and stand against Doug Ford’s cuts and chronic underfunding of the province’s health care system.