Your concerns about Manitoba’s severe physician shortage are top of mind in our public advocacy efforts to amplify your voice and drive tangible change. As you saw in last week’s issue of Vitals, our nationally recognized U.S. physician recruitment campaign was featured on CTV National News and Dr. Guzman laid out our specific asks in a Winnipeg Free Press op-ed.

Now, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba (CPSM) is putting out a call for comment by May 25^th on changes intended to reduce barriers for internationally trained physicians to practice in Manitoba. Public consultation is required before the regulation affecting the practice of medicine can be changed.

We are encouraged by this action taken by the CPSM, but cannot make an informed comment without your input! As we review the details for our written submission, it is your voice we want to hear. We invite you to send us your thoughts at practiceadvice@​doctorsmanitoba.​ca or provide your own submission directly to the CPSM (send us a copy!).

There are three changes proposed by the CPSM:

1. CPSM suggests allowing physicians from the United States to apply directly for a full licence, as long as they have completed a recognized residency program, hold certification from a Member Board of the American Board of Medical Specialists, and have a full licence to practice with a U.S. state medical board. This change has already been made in several provinces. U.S. physicians gaining a full licence would have a Quality Assurance audit in their first year of practice in Manitoba.

1. An eligibility rule for other internationally trained physicians would be loosened. At present, an internationally trained family physician applying for a provisional licence (usually requiring a Practice Ready Assessment) must have practiced elsewhere for three of the previous five years. The CPSM proposes that this be reduced to 960 hours of practice (about six months) in the previous three years. This is expected to expand the pool of potential applicants, but put more pressure on the already stretched PRA program.

1. Clinical assistants who hold a recognized medical degree would be able to use the title ​“Dr.” or ​“Doctor” in conjunction with ​“Clinical Assistant” or ​“CI.A.” The CPSM states this would enhance the Manitoba practice environment, and follow similar changes in B.C., Alberta, and Saskatchewan.

You can find the CPSM consultation documents at Public Consultation: Regulation Amendments to enhance pathways for international physicians — The College of Physicians & Surgeons of Manitoba.