NEWS FLASH – Nova Scotia
Recently the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia issued notice that they will be discontinuing the Practice Ready Assessment, a credentialing pathway of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, – closing the door to Nova Scotia for some talented foreign medical specialists.
Mr. John Philpott, a senior Nova Scotia health consultant has issued his rebuttal to the NS Colleges decision.
Firstly, this is a huge mistake by CPSNS to eliminate a key physician recruitment tool. To state that PRA is seldom requested is incorrect. Only recently, a talented Oby/Gyn specialist from France inquired of our firm about gaining employment in NS, now her hopes have been dashed.
Secondly, it is our opinion that the CPSNS has never properly engaged PRA in conjunction with the RCPC standards and in compliance with RCPC exam eligibility.
The current demand for IMG fellows by Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre and the IWK Children’s Hospital, their struggles to find quality candidates, combined with the aging population of NS specialists proves that this is the time, not to cancel, but to enhance the PRA program.
CPSNS already has one of the highest licence requirements for IMG family practitioners, resulting in top trained CCFP certified or eligible candidates to bypass NS and take positions elsewhere in Canada. For CPSNS to now eliminate access to specialist recruitment tools, brings us to question if the College is acting responsibly in fulfilling their mandate of “ensuring quality standard of care to NS citizens”.
Author Note: John Philpott is the President and CEO of the Nova Scotia based firms – CanAm Physician Recruiting Inc. and CanAm Health Management Consulting Inc.
