November 28, 2003

Health Minister Dave Chomiak today announced 10 foreign-trained physicians are one step closer to practising in rural Manitoba. The physicians will begin the enhanced training component of the province’s Medical Licensure Program for International Medical Graduates (MLPIMG) in January 2004.

"The MLPIMG is helping provide medical care for rural patients throughout Manitoba," said Chomiak. "This program is assisting foreign-trained physicians residing in Manitoba to obtain medical licensure for primary care practice in rural areas where doctors are most needed."

The MLPIMG assesses the medical knowledge and clinical skills of foreign-trained physicians residing in Manitoba. Following the assessment, the physicians may be eligible for an enhanced medical training program to assist them in meeting the eligibility requirements for conditional medical registration. This made-in-Manitoba program was developed through a partnership between Manitoba Health, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba and the University of Manitoba faculty of medicine.

As part of the MLPIMG, foreign-trained doctors residing in Manitoba must obtain sponsorship from a rural regional health authority which includes financial support during the period of enhanced medical training and agreement by the physicians to practise in rural Manitoba. After obtaining conditional medical registration with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba, the physicians begin medical practice in their sponsoring regions.

Since its inception in 2001, 21 foreign-trained physicians have participated in the MLPIMG. In 2003, three physicians completed the program and are now providing health services in rural Manitoba. Eight foreign-trained physicians who successfully completed the assessment component of the MLPIMG in September 2002 are nearing the completion of the enhanced training portion of the MLPIMG. Ten foreign-trained physicians successfully completed the assessment in 2003 and will begin enhanced medical training in January.

"Manitoba Health’s priority is to provide needed physicians to regional health authorities throughout the province," said Chomiak. "The MLPIMG is a key part of the province’s strategy to train, recruit and retain more doctors and is a good example of how innovative initiatives support our healthcare system."

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BACKGROUND INFORMATION.

• The Medical Licensure Program for International Medical Graduates (MLPIMG) was launched in April 2001 as a co-operative effort of Manitoba Health, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba and the University of Manitoba.
• The program includes three components:
• Component 1: Optional component to assist international medical graduates (IMGs) to prepare for the assessment process, medical licensure examinations and medical practice in the Canadian health care system. This component includes optional assessment of English language skills and training/upgrading.
• Component 2: Identify the IMGs’ medical strengths and areas of weakness and offer a program of instruction at the faculty of medicine for physicians requiring additional training as identified by the assessment.
• Component 3: Eligible IMGs are granted conditional medical licensure and begin primary care practice in their sponsoring region.
• In February 2003, the Manitoba government made improvements to the province’s strategy for recruiting foreign-trained doctors. These included:
• a centralized recruitment process to better co-ordinate regional health authority recruitment efforts. The process includes a central database to help link IMGs with job opportunities across Manitoba
• broadening of recruitment efforts to include physicians immigrating from countries previously ineligible.
• expanding the intake of IMGs to the assessment component of the MLPIMG program.
• Statistics from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba show the number of doctors in Manitoba has grown every year since 1999. In 2003, there were 2,152 licensed doctors in Manitoba, up 115 from 1999. The number of doctors has increased in both urban and rural areas.
• Manitoba was the first province to implement an assessment process and individualized enhanced training program to facilitate the licensing of resident international medical graduates – qualified doctors who were trained in other countries.
• Since its inception in 2001, more than 21 international medical graduates have participated in the MPLMIG program. In 2001, three doctors completed the program and are now providing health services in rural Manitoba. Eight foreign-trained physicians are nearing completion of the enhanced training portion of the 2002 MPLMIG program. They are expected to complete their training in January. Ten doctors have been accepted into the MLPIMG for the 2003 intake.

 

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