The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) has recently published the CMA Policy on Equity and Diversity in Medicine. The awareness of discrimination in the medical profession and the development of this CMA policy brings tremendous hope to the international medical graduate community that there will be a change. In the words of the CMA: “When we […]
(ENGLISH FOLLOWS.) Socasma a récemment reçu une correspondance du Dr. Lucie Opartrny, sous-ministre adjoint du ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux du Québec, nous indiquant que les Canadiens hors Québec qui sont diplômés des programmes internationaux de médecine pourront dorénavant présenter leur demande d’admission en résidence au Québec. Le site web de CARMS […]
Click on the link below to access key web sites for job search in the health field for unmatched physicians. Should you have other web sites to recommend, please send us an e-mail at: socasma.working@gmail.com Click here to access document: JOBS
Excellent story from CTV News Toronto! Click following link: https://toronto.citynews.ca/video/2020/04/07/calls-for-foreign-trained-doctors-to-be-allowed-to-help-on-frontlines-of-coronavirus-battle/?fbclid=IwAR3FbigM7-LKcomUng3JhQX6iwZgFVfS0ocE7nJhdmcaiBnxVB0X3B-woWE
The College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC has posted a proposed addition to Part 2, Section B of the Bylaws under the Health Professions Act. Comments can be posted until April 15. Email address below. The new section 2-24 of the Bylaws will allow international medical graduates (IMGs) to be registered on a restricted […]
Here is the link to SOCASMA’S Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/socasma/?eid=ARA8Pa3iqbGJMnUP-o2kiW7oR1ki_omV5NLu2Km_axTnbc9gpYrZln99qcMl-6fV6CE0D1KGmKMJ8zF8 If you are a Canadian who is studying medicine abroad, you may also want to join the following Facebook group that is private. Being a private group, you need to provide us with some basic information in order to be able to join. Here’s the link: […]
COVID 19 : ALLOW IMGs IN CANADA TO ASSIST AGAINST COVID-19! SIGN THIS PETITION THAT IS NOW CLOSE TO 10,000 SIGNATURES. https://www.change.org/p/patty-hajdu-allow-imgs-in-canada-to-assist-against-covid-19
QUEBEC IS INVITING CANADIANS WHO HAVE STUDIED MEDICINE ABROAD TO APPLY FOR EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN ITS FIGHT AGAINST COVID 19! Let’s test out this opportunity and please let us know if you were able to secure either a residency or another good employment opportunity. If you are bilingual your chance are probably better, but DO […]
LE QUÉBEC INVITE LES CANADIENS QUI ONT ÉTUDIÉ LA MÉDECINE À L’ÉTRANGER À FAIRE UNE DEMANDE D’EMPLOI DANS SA LUTTE CONTRE LE COVID 19! Nous vous invitons à tester cette opportunité dès maintenant. Faites-nous savoir si vous avez réussi à obtenir une résidence ou une autre bonne opportunité d’emploi. Voici où envoyer votre candidature https://jecontribuecovid19.gouv.qc.ca/Inscription.aspx
Rosemary Pawliuk, Executive Director of Socasma, has written to elected officials and major decision makers in the medical field pressing them to increase medical residency funding and reduce barriers to medical licensing in order to address the current COVID 19 pandemic. Click on the link below to access this letter. COVID 19 2nd wave
The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) has recently published the CMA Policy on Equity and Diversity in Medicine. The awareness of discrimination in the medical profession and the development of this CMA policy brings tremendous hope to the international medical graduate community that there will be a change. In the words of the CMA: “When we address equity and diversity, we are opening the conversation to include the voices and knowledge of those who have historically been under-represented and/or marginalized.
Equity in the medical profession is achieved when every person has the opportunity to realize their full potential to create and sustain a career without being unfairly impeded by discrimination or any other characteristic-related bias or barrier.”
SOCASMA believes that the conversation the CMA invites should begin with point of entry jobs in the medical profession, i.e., access to resident physician positions, where international medical graduates have been historically, and continue to be under-represented and/or marginalized.
Clink on the following link to access the letter that Rosemary Pawliuk, Executive Director of Socasma, has sent to the CMA on June 16, 2020. Letter to CMA 20.06.16
(ENGLISH FOLLOWS.)
Socasma a récemment reçu une correspondance du Dr. Lucie Opartrny, sous-ministre adjoint du ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux du Québec, nous indiquant que les Canadiens hors Québec qui sont diplômés des programmes internationaux de médecine pourront dorénavant présenter leur demande d’admission en résidence au Québec. Le site web de CARMS doit encore être mis à jour, mais nous avons pensé vous informer au cas où vous seriez intéressés de postuler pour une résidence au Québec. Il est important de savoir qu’en plus des exigences habituelles (examens du Conseil médical du Canada), les candidats doivent rencontrer les exigences linguistiques de Québec au niveau de leur connaissance du français. Ils doivent aussi obtenir une attestation d’équivalence de leur diplôme du Conseil des médecins du Québec, processus qui peut engendrer certains délais. Il est donc important de commencer tôt ce processus de reconnaissance de votre diplôme. A chaque année, une vingtaine de postes en résidence restent non comblés au Québec, plusieurs se trouvant dans des régions à forte concentration francophone.
Pour de plus amples renseignements au sujet du processus de jumelage CARMS au Québec: https://www.carms.ca/fr/jumelage/le-jumelage-principal-r-1/criteres-dadmissibilite/quebec/
MISE À JOUR EN DATE DU 30 NOVEMBRE 2020
LES CANADIENS QUI ONT ÉTUDIÉ LA MÉDECINE À L’ÉTRANGER SONT ADMISSIBLES AUX POSTES EN RÉSIDENCE AU QUÉBEC CONTRAIREMENT À CE QUI EST INDIQUÉ SUR LES SITES WEB DU CONSEIL MÉDICAL DU CANADA ET DU CARMS. Ces candidats doivent être bilingues. Les candidats doivent appliquent directement aux Facultés de médecine en question. Un des gros problèmes au Québec c’est que le Bureau de coopération interuniversitaire exige que le diplôme des candidats soit attesté par Québec. Ce processus peut prendre jusqu’à 6 mois. SOCASMA a communiqué avec le Bureau de coopération interuniveersitaire demandant que cette exigence soit abolie, ou que tout au moins, une norme de service d’un mois soit établie. Nous attendons toujours une réponse en date du 28 janvier 2021. Pour plus d’information au sujet du Québec, voir la lettre que nous avons reçue du MSSSQ.
LETTRE DU MINISTÈRE DE LA SANTÉ ET DES SERVICES SOCIAUX EDU QUÉBEC
Voici une correspondance que Socasma vient de recevoir en réponse à ses demandes au MSSSQ.
DHCEU = Diplômés hors Canada et États-Unis
Bonjour Madame Lafrenière
Tout d’abord, veuillez svp, accepter nos plus sincères excuses pour le délai de réponse.
Comme vous le savez bien, les Canadiens (bilingues ou francophones) qui ont étudié la médecine à l’étranger (en dehors du Canada ou des États-Unis d’Amérique) sont considérés comme les autres DHCEU.
À titre de rappel, pour les médecins DHCEU, il est possible de faire une demande d’un permis régulier par l’obtention d’un poste de résidence dans une des facultés de médecine du Québec. Il est également possible de s’inscrire à l’externat en médecine, mais le nombre d’admissions est restreint, en fonction de la capacité d’accueil des facultés de médecine.
Les candidats DHCEU n’ayant pas obtenu le permis restrictif ont l’opportunité d’obtenir un permis régulier. Pour ce faire, ils doivent avoir obtenu la reconnaissance de l’équivalence du diplôme de docteur en médecine du Québec, du Canada ou des États-Unis. Ces candidats seront inclus dans le contingent régulier d’admission aux études médicales postdoctorales (programmes de résidence en médecine familiale ou en spécialité).
Toutefois, un grand nombre de ces candidats ne sont toutefois pas admis en résidence, en dépit de la reconnaissance de l’équivalence de leur diplôme de docteur en médecine par le collège des médecins du Québec. Nous vous invitons à consulter le lien suivant pour connaître les conditions et les étapes nécessaires :
http://www.cmq.org/page/fr/formation-postdoctorale.aspx
Finalement, il est possible de faire une demande de soutien au centre d’évaluation des diplômes internationaux en santé (CÉDIS). En cas de refus à un poste de résidence dans un programme agréé par l’une des quatre facultés de médecine du Québec, nous invitons les candidats à prendre contact avec le CÉDIS qui a comme mandat d’accompagner les médecins vers une démarche d’obtention d’un permis régulier d’exercice, vous trouverez toutes les informations nécessaires dans le lien suivant :
http://www.cedis.ca/
Maintenant pour répondre à vos questions :
Concernant les étudiants canadiens bilingues qui ont étudié la médecine à l’étranger et qui voudraient faire une demande pour un poste en résidence au Québec, ces candidats sont admissibles, mais ils doivent suivre le même processus et répondent aux mêmes exigences que les autres DHCEU.
Concernant le contingent particulier, si un candidat a obtenu l’équivalence du CMQ et a été admissible au contingent particulier par les conférences des vices-doyens, il peut présenter une demande dans ce cadre directement aux facultés.
Concernant votre demande d’éliminer le processus d’attestation du diplôme de médecine qui est unique au Québec. Ce processus est la raison principale que beaucoup de candidats, dont des Québécois qui ont étudié à l’étranger, ne postulent pas au Québec.
Comme vous le savez, le processus du jumelage est la responsabilité du CarMs et non du ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux (MSSS).
Actuellement, nous sommes en réflexion sur l’admission des DHCEU canadiens afin de mieux encadrer et surtout de faciliter l’orientation et l’admission de ces candidats en résidence.
Je tiens à vous préciser tout de même que le MSSS n’a pas de grand pouvoir d’agir sur le processus ou les balises émises par le du Collège des médecins du Québec (CMQ).
Dans ce sens, on réitère notre volonté d’harmoniser les informations sur les processus d’admission des DHCEU. Nous maintenons, notre proposition et notre volonté de mettre en place un guide explicatif au sujet des postes de résidence au Québec pour les finissants des autres provinces notamment pour le DHCEU.
On vous remercie pour votre implication pour l’accueil, l’orientation et l’accompagnement des DHCEU.
Cordialement
(A noter que la lettre n’a pas été signée, mais que le courriel nous a été acheminé par Malek Arab du ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux du Québec).
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Socasma has recently received correspondence from Dr. Lucie Opartrny, Assistant Deputy Minister of the Quebec Ministry of Health and Social Services, indicating that Canadians outside Quebec who have graduated from international medical programs will now be able to apply for residency positions in Quebec. CARMS’ website still needs to be updated, but we thought we should inform you in case you were interested in applying for residency in Quebec. It is important to know that in addition to the usual requirements (exams from the Medical Council of Canada), candidates must meet French language proficiency requirements. They must also obtain a certificate of equivalence of their diploma from the Conseil des médecins du Québec, a process that can cause certain delays. It is therefore important to start this equivalency recognition process for your diploma early. Each year, close to twenty residency positions remain unfilled in Quebec, many of which are in regions with a high concentration of Francophones.
For more information about the CARMS matching process in Quebec: https://www.carms.ca/match/r-1-main-residency-match/eligibility-criteria/quebec/
UPDATE AS OF NOVEMBER 30, 2020
CANADIANS WHO HAVE STUDYED MEDICINE ABROAD ARE ELIGIBLE FOR POSITIONS RESIDING IN QUEBEC, CONTRARY TO WHICH IS INDICATED ON THE MEDICAL COUNCIL OF CANADA AND CARMS WEBSITES. These candidates must be bilingual. Applicants must apply directly to the medical schools in question. One of the big problems in Quebec is that the Bureau de coopération interuniversitaire requires that candidates’ diplomas be certified by Quebec. This process can take up to 6 months. SOCASMA has contacted the Bureau de coopération interuniversitaire requesting that this requirement be abolished, or at the very least, a one-month service standard be established. We are still waiting for a response as of January 28, 202/. For more information about Quebec, see the letter we received from Quebec’s Ministry of Health.
Socasma has been corresponding with Quebec’s Ministry of Health. Here’s a response that we have just received.
(English translation of letter sent in French only.)
Hello Madame Lafrenière
First, please accept our sincere apologies for the delay in responding.
As you well know, Canadians (bilingual or French-speaking) who have studied medicine abroad (outside of Canada or the United States of America) are considered to be other IMGs.
As a reminder, for IMG physicians, it is possible to apply for a regular permit by obtaining a residency position in one of the faculties of medicine in Quebec. It is also possible to register for a medical clerkship, but the number of admissions is limited, depending on the capacity of medical schools.
IMG applicants who have not obtained the restrictive permit have the opportunity to obtain a regular permit. To do so, they must have obtained recognition of the equivalence of the medical doctor’s degree from Quebec, Canada or the United States. These candidates will be included in the regular admission quota for postdoctoral medical studies (family medicine or specialty residency programs).
However, a large number of these candidates are not admitted to residency, despite the recognition of the equivalence of their medical degree by the College of Physicians of Quebec (Collège des médecins du Québec). We invite you to consult the following link for the conditions and necessary steps:
http://www.cmq.org/page/fr/formation-postdoctorale.aspx
Finally, it is possible to make a request for support from the Center for the Evaluation of International Diplomas in Health (CÉDIS). In the event of refusal to a residency position in a program approved by one of the four faculties of medicine in Quebec, we invite applicants to contact CÉDIS, whose mandate is to support physicians in the process of obtaining a regular permit to practice, you will find all the necessary information in the following link:
http://www.cedis.ca/
Now to answer your questions:
For bilingual Canadian students who have studied medicine abroad and who would like to apply for a residency position in Quebec, these candidates are eligible, but they must follow the same process and meet the same requirements as other IMGs.
Regarding the special quota (contingent particulier), if a candidate has obtained the equivalence of the CMQ and has been eligible for the special quota by the conferences of vice-deans, he can submit an application in this context directly to the faculties.
Regarding your request to eliminate the medical degree attestation process which is unique in Quebec. This process is the main reason that many candidates, including Quebecers who have studied abroad, do not apply in Quebec.
As you know, the twinning process is the responsibility of CarMs and not of the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MSSS).
Currently, we are considering the admission of Canadian IMGs in order to better supervise and especially to facilitate the orientation and admission of these candidates in residence.
I would like to point out, however, that the MSSS does not have great power to act on the process or the guidelines issued by the College of Physicians of Quebec (CMQ).
In this sense, we reiterate our desire to harmonize information on the admissions process for IMGs. We maintain our proposal and our desire to put in place an explanatory guide about residency positions in Quebec for graduates from other provinces, particularly for the IMG.
We thank you for your involvement in welcoming, guiding and supporting IMGs.
cordially
(Note that the letter was not signed, but that the e-mail was sent by Malek Arab from the ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux du Québec).
Click on the link below to access key web sites for job search in the health field for unmatched physicians. Should you have other web sites to recommend, please send us an e-mail at: socasma.working@gmail.com
Click here to access document: JOBS
Excellent story from CTV News Toronto! Click following link:
https://toronto.citynews.ca/video/2020/04/07/calls-for-foreign-trained-doctors-to-be-allowed-to-help-on-frontlines-of-coronavirus-battle/?fbclid=IwAR3FbigM7-LKcomUng3JhQX6iwZgFVfS0ocE7nJhdmcaiBnxVB0X3B-woWE
The College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC has posted a proposed addition to Part 2, Section B of the Bylaws under the Health Professions Act.
Comments can be posted until April 15. Email address below.
The new section 2-24 of the Bylaws will allow international medical graduates (IMGs) to be registered on a restricted class of registration called the “associate physician class” to provide a much-needed service in acute care settings. In light of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the minister of health has approved the proposed Bylaws and agreed to a shortened time frame for consultation. The consultation will close on April 15, 2020.
Overview
International medical graduates who are not eligible for a full or provisional licence in BC may be eligible to apply for restricted licensure as associate physicians under the direction and supervision of attending physicians in acute care settings. An associate physician is not licensed for independent practice and must not act in the capacity as the most responsible physician. A typical role for an associate physician includes working as part of a hospitalist team or in an operating room as a surgical assistant.
In order to qualify, an IMG must have:
• a medical degree
• at least two years of postgraduate training in a medical or surgical specialty
• part 1 of the LMCC qualifying exams
Their application for registration must be preceded by a detailed written request from one of the regional health authorities.
Associate physicians will work in teams as employees of a regional health authority.
Associate physicians will pay registration and licensing fees as reflected in Schedule A.
The proposed Bylaw amendments have been posted for a 15-day notice period, giving College registrants and other interested parties the opportunity to review and comment.
• Bylaw amendments: Section 2-24 (new)
• Bylaw amendments: Schedule A (redline version)
• Bylaw amendments: Schedule A (clean version)
Comments can be submitted to the following by April 15, 2020:
College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia
Attention: Registrar and CEO
Email: bylaw3@cpsbc.ca
Ministry of Health, Health Sector Workforce Division
Attention: Brian Westgate, Director of Strategic Priorities
Email: proregadmin@gov.bc.ca
Here is the link to SOCASMA’S Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/socasma/?eid=ARA8Pa3iqbGJMnUP-o2kiW7oR1ki_omV5NLu2Km_axTnbc9gpYrZln99qcMl-6fV6CE0D1KGmKMJ8zF8
If you are a Canadian who is studying medicine abroad, you may also want to join the following Facebook group that is private. Being a private group, you need to provide us with some basic information in order to be able to join. Here’s the link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/cdnssma/?epa=SEARCH_BOX
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Voici le lien à la page Facebook de SOCASMA: https://www.facebook.com/socasma/?eid=ARBsUKE58AmIF1tuq-6BvYKVyG9wAVz7-JBrZtgMT0nMQH1LSd07toQgnfZmfxCZlZDetytMLl3Rscd-
Si vous êtes un Canadien qui étudie la médecine à l’étranger, vous voudrez sans doute vous joindre également au groupe Facebook suivant qui est privé. Étant privé, vous devez fournir quelques informations de base qui vous permettront de joindre ce groupe. Voici le lien: https://www.facebook.com/groups/cdnssma/?epa=SEARCH_BOX
COVID 19 : ALLOW IMGs IN CANADA TO ASSIST AGAINST COVID-19! SIGN THIS PETITION THAT IS NOW CLOSE TO 10,000 SIGNATURES. https://www.change.org/p/patty-hajdu-allow-imgs-in-canada-to-assist-against-covid-19
QUEBEC IS INVITING CANADIANS WHO HAVE STUDIED MEDICINE ABROAD TO APPLY FOR EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN ITS FIGHT AGAINST COVID 19! Let’s test out this opportunity and please let us know if you were able to secure either a residency or another good employment opportunity. If you are bilingual your chance are probably better, but DO NOT ASSUME that your application will be discounted if you only speak English. Here’s where to send your application. https://jecontribuecovid19.gouv.qc.ca/Inscription.aspx
If you need help translating your application, please e-mail us at : socasma.working@gmail.com
LE QUÉBEC INVITE LES CANADIENS QUI ONT ÉTUDIÉ LA MÉDECINE À L’ÉTRANGER À FAIRE UNE DEMANDE D’EMPLOI DANS SA LUTTE CONTRE LE COVID 19! Nous vous invitons à tester cette opportunité dès maintenant. Faites-nous savoir si vous avez réussi à obtenir une résidence ou une autre bonne opportunité d’emploi. Voici où envoyer votre candidature https://jecontribuecovid19.gouv.qc.ca/Inscription.aspx
Rosemary Pawliuk, Executive Director of Socasma, has written to elected officials and major decision makers in the medical field pressing them to increase medical residency funding and reduce barriers to medical licensing in order to address the current COVID 19 pandemic. Click on the link below to access this letter.
COVID 19 2nd wave