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Canadian Medical Association Urges Action to Revitalize Healthcare

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The Canadian Medical Association (CMA), the country’s largest physicians’ organization, has called on the federal government to urgently address the challenges facing Canada’s healthcare system. This appeal follows a recent meeting involving federal, provincial, and territorial health ministers, where several critical issues were discussed, including access to medication and the licensing of internationally trained healthcare professionals.

During the discussions, topics such as enhancing mental health and addiction services, modernizing healthcare data systems, and tackling global public health threats like measles outbreaks were also on the agenda. Despite the significance of these conversations, the CMA expressed disappointment, stating that the meeting did not lead to concrete action plans.

Dr. Margot Burnell, president of the CMA, emphasized the necessity for increased funding for primary care teams. “We would like to see a provincial memorandum of understanding to facilitate physician mobility across provinces,” she said. “We were hoping they would come out with that. Additionally, we seek a streamlined immigration pathway for internationally medically trained doctors.”

The issue of physician availability is pressing; there is a chronic shortage of family doctors across Canada, leaving hundreds of thousands of Canadians without a family physician. According to Dr. Burnell, implementing a multi-jurisdictional licensure pathway could enhance access to care by approximately 10 to 15 percent, drawing on successful models from the United States and Australia.

The CMA also highlighted the absence of a coordinated immunization program as a critical oversight. “Vaccinations save lives, so that’s very important. We’ve seen the measles outbreak, and we’ve seen loss of lives from that, making it a significant public health concern,” Dr. Burnell stated. She voiced her hope that such issues would have been prioritized during the meeting.

A recent report on Canada’s future health workforce indicates that the nation requires an additional 23,000 family physicians, representing a 49 percent increase from current levels. The study also identified a need for 14,000 more licensed nurses and 28,000 registered nurses, along with additional nurse practitioners and occupational therapists.

As Canada grapples with these healthcare challenges, the CMA’s call to action underscores the urgent need for comprehensive reforms to ensure that all Canadians have access to quality medical care.

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