For Immediate Release
November 12, 2004
McGUINTY GOVERNMENT OPENS NEW DOORS TO INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL GRADUATES
WINDSOR - The McGuinty government is increasing supports for internationally trained medical graduates to create more doctors in Ontario, Local MPPs Dwight Duncan, Sandra Pupatello, and Bruce Crozier announced today.
The two new projects unveiled by the Ministry of Training Colleges and Universities represent an investment of $1.7 million over three years and complement Ontario's existing $26 million IMG-Ontario program. The projects provide bridging support to internationally trained medical graduates to identify opportunities that will more fully use their science-based training within the health care system.
The provincial government is investing $1.7 million over three years in two new training projects:
- The Communications and Cultural Competence project will help IMGs strengthen their communication with patients and gain awareness of medicine in Ontario
- The Sector Specific Employment Services for Alternative Health Sector Employment for Internationally Trained Physicians project will help IMGs who are not working as physicians to use their skills in other areas of the health sector.
"Communities like ours need more doctors," said Duncan. "We are taking bold new steps to meet this need including creating more opportunities for qualified foreign-trained doctors to practice in Ontario."
The Association of International Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario developed both projects.
"Today's announcement is a perfect complement to our ongoing initiative to train and assess more than 200 foreign-trained doctors each year," Pupatello said.
"Our government is going to ensure that International Medical Graduates become a valuable and reliable part of our health care system," Crozier added.
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MPP Contacts:
Vanessa Torrance
Office of Dwight Duncan, MPP
416-327-3546
Bruce Crozier, MPP
519-776-6420
