Ontario is increasing access to doctors in by enabling more qualified foreign-trained physicians to train and practise in the province. "Ontario needs more doctors and International Medical Graduates represent a major, untapped opportunity to bring more physicians to communities that need them," said Health and Long-Term Care Minister George Smitherman. "We are increasing training positions for IMGs to 200 annually. That’s more than double the current amount, and comparable to the number of students who enter residency positions every year at one of Canada’s largest medical schools."

A few years ago, the road for an International Medical Graduate (IMG) like Dr. Brindusa Popa could be a difficult one. But, as her story illustrates, things are starting to change.

Dr. Popa immigrated to Ontario in 1999 from Romania. Her first attempt at meeting all of the requirements to become registered as a doctor in the province was unsuccessful. Disappointed and slightly discouraged, she began working for a hospital in downtown Toronto as a researcher and then a secretary.

For two years, she worked while studying part-time to be an ultrasonographer. Encouraged by her performance in the ultrasound program and by her colleagues at the hospital, Dr. Popa decided to pursue her dream of becoming a doctor once again.

This time, however, things were different. More opportunities for IMGs were being created each year, and Dr. Popa was accepted into one of Ontario’s new IMG programs in 2002.

She began an assessment program in October 2002. And by December 2003, she was working as a doctor in Ontario.

Although Dr. Popa came to Canada with a lot of training and experience, the differences between the Ontario health system and the Romanian one she had trained in caused some initial difficulties. She credits the assessment and training she received in Ontario’s IMG programs with overcoming those obstacles. And she adds that almost everyone she encountered taught her something new, or helped her organize her skills, so that she could make the leap into the Canadian health care system.

Dr. Popa is now fulfilling her five-year service requirement in Caledon East, one of Ontario’s underserviced communities. She is ecstatic about being able to practise as a family physician again and describes her patients and colleagues as the "nicest people I’ve ever met."

For more information about IMG Ontario call INFOline at 1-800-268-1154 or visit us online at www.health.gov.on.ca

For more information about a wide variety of health topics, visit HealthyOntario.

TORONTO (June 2004) — With the launch of International Medical Graduates Ontario, foreign-trained doctors will be brought into practice in Ontario more quickly and easily. Under IMG Ontario’s supervision, eligible foreign-trained physicians are screened and then directed to an appropriate assessment or training position, leading to their registration to practise in the province.

The McGuinty government is investing $26-million in the IMG program which will fund :

• The doubling of IMG training and assessment positions to 200 annually.
• More than half of these IMG positions will require participants to practice in underserviced areas for a specific time period in return for their training;
• IMG Ontario, which is a one-stop entry point for foreign-trained doctors to apply for assessment and training; and
• Support for the fast-track assessment and registration of up to 40 foreign-trained doctors, who are currently practising outside the province, through a pilot program with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario.

IMG Ontario assesses the qualifications of foreign-trained doctors and will soon provide them with information on the medical system, pre-entry requirements and exam preparation materials. The ministry developed IMG Ontario along with partners at the Council of Ontario Faculties of Medicine and the College of Physicians and Surgeons.

Ontario also continues to lead discussions with the federal government on IMG issues and is participating in Forum 2004: IMG Taskforce Implementation. In March 2004, the federal government announced it will contribute $919,000 over three years to support Ontario's efforts to implement the task force's recommendations.

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