Physicians: National licensing body would allow greater flexibility, ease shortages

A doctor practicing in B.C. says Canada should adopt Australia's policy and have one federal licensing body for physicians. He explains that to work temporarily in other provinces (locum) requires applying for a license in the new jurisdiction. In one instance, paperwork took five months and cost $3,000 when he replaced a vacationing doctor in Manitoba. A B.C. surgeon states that eliminating bureaucratic barriers between provinces would mean specialists could travel to underserved areas. Meanwhile, burnout rates in the profession could be eased if physicians could be replaced more readily by colleagues from other jurisdictions.