The shortage of physicians and the integration of foreign doctors to the system: lots of words but little action.
When I was an adolescent and did something I wasn’t supposed to do, after being lectured I used to ask something to my dad: “why do you always look at the bad things? I also do good things”, to which he replied: “because the good things are good, but the bad things are broken and need to be fixed.”
On March 22nd I decided to attend an excellent seminar organized by the Colombian Canadian Professional Association (CCPA) where the Health Minister of Ontario, the Honourable George Smitherman would be taking questions from the audience. Very excited I thought this was a great opportunity to know about the government plans to tackle the current doctor shortage by recognizing foreign doctor’s credentials and experience so they could be funneled into the health care system quickly and efficiently.
The evening started out well. It is evident Mr. Smitherman has a lot of passion and energy about his work, and it’s demonstrated by the way he talks. However, as the seminar progressed I realized that even though the Minister may have the will to solve this problem, he is first and foremost a politician.
His objective for the soiree was not really responding to our questions or talk about his plans. The only thing he did was talking about the “achievements” of his tenure and reminding us that he represents the Toronto Centre – Rosedale riding, that he is a Liberal and he believes in Pierre Trudeau’s principles.
He said this so many times I forgot I was in a seminar and I was convinced I had to go vote afterwards (not for him).
Afer saying nothing for about 15 minutes, he took this seat on the speaker’s table, leaving the floor for Doctor Federico Carrillo, Executive Director of the Association of International Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (AIPSO).
Doctor Carrillo spoke masterfully, firmly and respectfully, and proceeded to list the issues and solutions proposed by AIPSO, speaking naturally to the audience, but mainly to the Minister sitting beside him.
I was already disapppointed after listening to the Minister babble without really saying anything. But looking at his demeanor when Doctor Carrillo was talking was the worst: he was admiring his nails, playing with his pen, looking somewhere else and once in a while shook his head in obvious disagreement with what Doctor Carrillo was saying. Later the Minister responded to pre-selected questions, which were obviously selected because they wouldn’t cause any controversy or make him look bad.
But before answering those questions he made sure we understood one thing: saying that foreign-trained doctors are delivering pizza, like Doctor Carrillo said, is simple not a fair or valid argument and it actually diminishes the work that’s been done, because everywhere he goes he sees foreign-trained doctors and this must be recognized.
That’s when I remembered my father’s words (and related punishment). Of course progress has been made, but it’s not enough. We must point out the negatives and focus on them, just like Doctor Carrillo did: it is just beyond comprehension that there is a grave shortage of doctors, that Canada has one of the lowest doctor-to-patient ratios in the World and in many communities there is only one doctor serving them. Real and immediate solutions are required. Doctors? There are a plenty – family practitioners, specialists and surgeons from all over the World – they are delivering pizza or driving a taxi thanks to a system that protects its own and does not recognize foreign studies or experience. This forces doctors to take these jobs because they need to eat. This is the reality, and if Minister Smitherman feels uncomfortable getting a reality check in this type of events, he cannot just sit there and praise the government. Like my father told me many years ago, we must focus on the negatives to fix them. So let’s stop talking and let’s start working to solve this problem.
- Mario Ferrer
On March 22nd I decided to attend an excellent seminar organized by the Colombian Canadian Professional Association (CCPA) where the Health Minister of Ontario, the Honourable George Smitherman would be taking questions from the audience. Very excited I thought this was a great opportunity to know about the government plans to tackle the current doctor shortage by recognizing foreign doctor’s credentials and experience so they could be funneled into the health care system quickly and efficiently.
The evening started out well. It is evident Mr. Smitherman has a lot of passion and energy about his work, and it’s demonstrated by the way he talks. However, as the seminar progressed I realized that even though the Minister may have the will to solve this problem, he is first and foremost a politician.
His objective for the soiree was not really responding to our questions or talk about his plans. The only thing he did was talking about the “achievements” of his tenure and reminding us that he represents the Toronto Centre – Rosedale riding, that he is a Liberal and he believes in Pierre Trudeau’s principles.
He said this so many times I forgot I was in a seminar and I was convinced I had to go vote afterwards (not for him).
Afer saying nothing for about 15 minutes, he took this seat on the speaker’s table, leaving the floor for Doctor Federico Carrillo, Executive Director of the Association of International Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (AIPSO).
Doctor Carrillo spoke masterfully, firmly and respectfully, and proceeded to list the issues and solutions proposed by AIPSO, speaking naturally to the audience, but mainly to the Minister sitting beside him.
I was already disapppointed after listening to the Minister babble without really saying anything. But looking at his demeanor when Doctor Carrillo was talking was the worst: he was admiring his nails, playing with his pen, looking somewhere else and once in a while shook his head in obvious disagreement with what Doctor Carrillo was saying. Later the Minister responded to pre-selected questions, which were obviously selected because they wouldn’t cause any controversy or make him look bad.
But before answering those questions he made sure we understood one thing: saying that foreign-trained doctors are delivering pizza, like Doctor Carrillo said, is simple not a fair or valid argument and it actually diminishes the work that’s been done, because everywhere he goes he sees foreign-trained doctors and this must be recognized.
That’s when I remembered my father’s words (and related punishment). Of course progress has been made, but it’s not enough. We must point out the negatives and focus on them, just like Doctor Carrillo did: it is just beyond comprehension that there is a grave shortage of doctors, that Canada has one of the lowest doctor-to-patient ratios in the World and in many communities there is only one doctor serving them. Real and immediate solutions are required. Doctors? There are a plenty – family practitioners, specialists and surgeons from all over the World – they are delivering pizza or driving a taxi thanks to a system that protects its own and does not recognize foreign studies or experience. This forces doctors to take these jobs because they need to eat. This is the reality, and if Minister Smitherman feels uncomfortable getting a reality check in this type of events, he cannot just sit there and praise the government. Like my father told me many years ago, we must focus on the negatives to fix them. So let’s stop talking and let’s start working to solve this problem.
- Mario Ferrer
posted by Tina Kyrtsos and Mario Ferrer at 10:54 AM
1 Comments:
Thanks for the blog. I wish you can send this to the press and other institutions like the Ministry of Citizenship and Min of Health (physician planning unit).
It is good that htye get this feedback, otherwise Smitherman's attitude will continue to prevail.
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