Foreign doctors take up more medical residency spots as Canadians struggle to get in

The country's medical schools turn away more than 1,000 Canadian doctors trained abroad annually, even though the country is facing a physician shortage. But they still manage to find residency spots for foreign nationals who are much less likely to stay and help chip away at the physician deficit.

Foreign doctors take up more medical residency spots as Canadians struggle to get in
Electrophysiologist Dr. Alexios Hadjis, left, performs a ventricular tachycardia ablation at Sacre-Coeur Hospital, Wednesday, July 26, 2023 in Montreal.

The country's medical schools turn away more than 1,000 Canadian doctors trained abroad annually, even though the country is facing a physician shortage. But they still manage to find residency spots for foreign nationals who are much less likely to stay and help chip away at the physician deficit.