CPSA streamlines registration for new foreign doctors from ‘approved' countries
The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta is streamlining the process for foreign doctors to acquire licences in Alberta. (Pexels/Antoni Shkraba Studio)
Newly graduated doctors coming from an approved list of countries will have an easier time acquiring a licence in Alberta, officials said Wednesday.
The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA) said all foreign-trained doctors from a list of approved jurisdictions whose credentials match Canadian standards will be eligible for full licences.
The CPSA says the move is part of its Accelerated Jurisdiction Route, which has proven to support strong physician performance and safe patient outcomes.
'We are reducing barriers while maintaining the standards that Albertans count on and deserve. We believe it's a practical, thoughtful approach to strengthening our health-care system and ensuring timely access to safe, competent care,' said Dr. Scott McLeod, CPSA registrar and CEO, in a news release.
The approved jurisdictions include medical schools in the United States, United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.
The CPSA says the change aims to modernize registration and ensure 'equitable access' for all qualified international medical graduates.
'Strengthen Alberta's health workforce'
Adriana LaGrange, Alberta's minister of primary and preventative health services, says she is pleased with the CPSA's update.
'This initiative will strengthen Alberta's health workforce, reduce red tape and ensure qualified individuals can work in our province,' she said in a statement.
Further details on the foreign institutions approved by the CPSA can be found online.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CTV News
28 minutes ago
- CTV News
Heat warning continues with WECHU offering guidance
As the extreme heat continues to grip the region, Windsor's top doctor is urging residents to take care of themselves. Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU) Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Mehdi Aloosh said it's important to drink water and keep hydrated and stay in shaded areas. 'If they don't have air conditioning in their house, people can go into malls, community centres, libraries, to keep themselves safe from the hot weather,' said Dr. Aloosh. He said to watch for signs of heat stroke in yourself and others. 'Thirst, lightheadedness, it starts with cramping, and then some of the fogginess in thinking,' said Dr. Aloosh. Dr. Aloosh said it's important to regularly apply sunscreen when outside. 'The generally recommendation is that when you are out, and even if you are not under the sun, you need to use that even if it's a cloudy day,' he said. Environment Canada has issued a heat warning. The weather service said showers and thunderstorms are expected to move through on Monday, ending the extreme heat and humidity by Monday evening. - Written by Dustin Coffman and Meagan Delaurier/AM800 News.
CBC
an hour ago
- CBC
N.B. opioid deaths involving fentanyl at all-time high, says Public Health
Laura MacNeill says a regular client of Avenue B Harm Reduction died from a fentanyl overdose last week. Those tragedies have become increasingly common, the executive director said, noting Avenue B staff have witnessed people overdose while sitting in the Saint John office. "We see these folks, we look at their face, we know their story," MacNeill said. "We feel connected to them. We want to help them. And when ... they pass, that is extremely hard." In 2024, fentanyl was detected in 57 per cent of opioid-related deaths in New Brunswick. In 2023, the powerful opioid was present in 56 per cent of lethal overdoses, according to a report issued this month by Public Health. WATCH | 'We are responding to overdoses in our own office,' harm reduction group says N.B. reports record-high opioid deaths involving fentanyl 1 hour ago Duration 2:29 For the second year in a row, Public Health says opioid deaths involving fentanyl were at an all-time high in 2024. Avenue B Harm Reduction in Saint John is seeing the escalating crisis first-hand. The figure for 2024 translates to 42 of the 78 deaths recorded. Most of those deaths occurred in people aged between 40 and 49 years old. It marks two record years in a row for opioid-related deaths involving fentanyl in New Brunswick. "It's an extremely toxic drug supply that we have here in New Brunswick, and specifically in Saint John," MacNeill said in an interview. "This is something we're hearing and seeing every day on the front line." Avenue B has been offering drug testing on site and is increasingly seeing the presence of other toxic additives, including the veterinary tranquilizer xylazine. Co-occurrence, or the presence of more than one drug, is flagged as "of notable concern" in the Public Health report. "Of the 549 apparent substance toxicity deaths between January 2020 and December 2024, two or more drug classes (e.g., opioid, alcohol, benzodiazepines, stimulants, etc.) were present among 501 (91 per cent) decedents," the report says. "Of the 316 decedents who died from an accidental and pending intent apparent opioid toxicity death since January 2020, one or more non-opioid drug classes were present among 312 (99 per cent) decedents." MacNeill says the increasingly toxic drug supply has meant a typical dose of naloxone is not as effective at reversing an opioid overdose. "We have been seeing an increase in the the complexity of the overdoses that folks are responding to, which means that they are oftentimes requiring five to six doses of naloxone, and each kit comes with three," she said. Public Health numbers also show distribution of naloxone, a common front-line treatment for opioid overdose, has steadily increased to 4,215 kits in 2024. That's compared to between 2,000 and 3,000 kits in the prior two years, 634 in 2021, and 146 in 2020. While each person coming into Avenue B has their own story, MacNeill says many have fallen into homelessness after aging out of government care. She says improving access to mental health care for this population is critical to reduce opioid deaths. "Ultimately they're all people," she said. "They are brothers and sisters and moms and dads." Health Minister John Dornan believes the province's plan to improve access to mental health services will ultimately help address opioid deaths. "The opioid crisis is also a crisis of mental health. So we can rarely tease them apart and deal with them separately," Dornan said at a Thursday event in Fredericton. "We've drafted legislation that allows us to go in to help homeless people with the care that they need ... Homelessness is a big part of our problem."
CBC
2 hours ago
- CBC
Former refugee 'couldn't be more proud' to become Canadian citizen
Agnes Lomoro arrived in Nova Scotia as a skilled refugee health-care worker four years ago. Originally from South Sudan, she now works as a registered nurse and has recently become a Canadian citizen. The CBC's Gareth Hampshire has the story.
