Could a national physician registry help Alberta's doctor shortage? Some physicians think so

As Alberta continues to grapple with physician shortages, some doctors point to the concept of a unified national licensing system as one possible relief valve, particularly for rural areas.

The Canadian Medical Association has been advocating for pan-Canadian licensure as one way to address doctor shortages.

An interprovincial registry launched in Atlantic Canada at the beginning of May allows physicians who opt in to practise across provincial borders.

"The ongoing and growing shortage of physicians … is something that we're seeing across the entire country. And because of that, it has fired up this conversation again and made it even more imperative for us to address it," said Dr. Shazma Mithani, an Edmonton ER physician.

She's treating a growing number of patients — with less urgent concerns or with worsening chronic conditions — in the emergency room because they don't have access to primary care.

"In rural Alberta, in particular, not only is there a lack of family doctors in primary care, there's also a lack of specialist care," said Mithani.

"Having pan-Canadian licensure would allow … specialists or subs-specialists in other parts of the country to help bridge that gap [and] allow parts of rural Alberta to have the same access as urban centres."

Mithani believes it would pave the way for more locum physicians to work in Alberta temporarily or for doctors to care for patients virtually, she said.

Dr. Marguerite Heyns is an obstetrician gynecologist licensed in B.C., Alberta and the Yukon.

She's now working as a locum in Lethbridge, which is struggling with a severe shortage of these specialists.

"The way that it is currently set up in terms of licensing in each individual province is really just a bit of a money grab and a very time-consuming thing to go through," said Heyns, noting the processes are very similar and require the same nationally regulated qualifications.

She pays $7,600 a year to be licensed in all three jurisdictions.

"It really creates this barrier for physicians to be able to move freely between provinces," said Heyns.

"There's lots of physicians like myself who are willing … to go somewhere for a week or two to relieve our colleagues in areas that are under served, that have trouble with retention."