Shawville – Jan. 23, 2023

The Society of Rural Physicians of Canada (SRPC) welcomes the Government of Ontario’s announcement regarding physician mobility. The SRPC has been advocating for national licensure as a critical element that will reduce barriers and improve access to healthcare in Canada.

Canada’s healthcare system is in crisis and the mobility of healthcare professionals across jurisdictions must be addressed. We are encouraged by this news from Ontario and recent announcements by the Atlantic provinces regarding a move towards a regional licensure process. However, changes need to be implemented to recognize the credentials of healthcare workers registered in all provinces and territories.

The SRPC believes that national licensure would promote and support access to care for patients and coverage for providers in rural and remote regions, where care often relies on providers and systems that span provincial and territorial borders. We urge the federal and provincial governments to further their actions to enable a national approach to licensure.

Canadians need access to healthcare practitioners and a national licensure would allow health care professionals to work anywhere in Canada.