Atlantic premiers announce new registry to cut down on red tape for doctors who want to work throughout the region
CTV
The Council of Atlantic Premiers announced a new physicians and surgeons registry that is expected to make it easier for doctors to work temporarily in provinces other than where they have a medical licence.
The Council of Atlantic Premiers announced a new physicians and surgeons registry that is expected to make it easier for doctors to work temporarily in provinces other than where they have a medical licence.
The announcement was made on Monday by Prince Edward Island Premier Dennis King during a meeting in Charlottetown between the four Atlantic premiers.
King said, over the last couple of months, the four provinces have been working on launching the "Registrars of the Atlantic colleges of physicians and surgeons," which is expected to improve physician mobility within the region and to "cut down on the unnecessary red tape and administrative burden for physicians who want to work within the region and any of our health-care systems."
Premiers expect the registry to be in place by May 1.
"Starting May 1, 2023, physicians will now be able to opt into the Atlantic registry and will be able to work in any of the Atlantic provinces seamlessly without any additional licensing requirements," said King during Monday's meeting.
"We also discussed how we can work together as a region on foreign recruitment of health-care professionals and find pathways for expediting a licensing for health-care professionals for both domestic and international health-care professionals who want to come to Atlantic Canada to work within our health-care system."
Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey, who is also an orthopedic trauma surgeon, said there's nothing preventing doctors from working outside their home province, but the process of getting permission can be tough.
