B.C. Plans To License More Internationally Trained Doctors

The spending announcements continue, a little more than a week after BCs new premier was sworn in.

The David Eby government is making it easier for internationally educated doctors to train in the province.

BC is expanding the Practice Ready Assessment program, which is a pathway for internationally educated family doctors to be licensed to work in B.C.

The program will triple from 32 seats to 96 seats by March 2024.

The program allows internationally-educated family doctors to become licensed to work in B.C, placing them in rural and urban communities who need more physicians and requiring they work that placement for at least three years. 

Health Minister Adrian Dix says the move removes barriers for doctors from the United States to work in B.C.

The College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC is also looking at a bylaw change allowing doctors trained in the U-S for three years to practice in community settings in B.C., including urgent and primary care centres.

The bylaw changes are expected to be implemented in the coming weeks, with the aim of allowing those doctors to practise in B.C. communities by January.