Territory focusing on recruitment, retention of doctors
International medical graduates currently practising in Yukon will be able to stay for an additional two years, thanks to changes to the Medical Profession Act regulations.
“Effective immediately, we are extending the term of licence from five to seven years and have already reopened Yukon to issuing provisional licences to qualified international medical graduates that may want to establish a medical practice in Yukon,” said Premier Darrell Pasloski.
The change will help alleviate pressures around physician recruitment and retention in Yukon, said the government.
The new seven-year licence will make Yukon more attractive over the long term, said Health and Social Services Minister Doug Graham.
“Our role is to ensure that access to insured health services is available to everyone and a part of this will be achieved through the recruitment and retention of doctors. This is a high priority and we need to take immediate action to retain the international medical graduates who are already practising in Yukon and providing excellent care to patients.”
The Limited Licence Program provides a mechanism for qualified international medical graduates (IMGs) to practise in Yukon until they are able to pass the Canadian national exams and become fully licensed.
With the support of the Yukon Medical Association (YMA), Yukon government is also working to develop a recruitment strategy that will be one of the pillars in attracting and retaining physicians in Yukon.
“The successful recruitment of physicians to Yukon will require a full-time commitment in order to build relationships with the medical community as well as medical schools across the country and abroad,” said Graham. “This government has identified the recruitment of physicians to the territory as a priority and we remain committed to working with the Yukon medical community.”
To date, the Yukon government has undertaken ad campaigns in collaboration with the YMA, designed a recruitment website and introduced a number of financial incentives to assist new physicians entering practice, while continuing to support current physicians.