Thousands of New Brunswickers will get a family doctor.
Ten internationally trained physicians, who are a part of the Practice Ready Assessment Program in New Brunswick, will begin taking patients in various areas in the province.
Eligible physicians participate in a thorough 12-week clinical field assessment under the supervision of licensed New Brunswick physicians to evaluate their readiness, skills, and suitability to provide safe patient care to New Brunswickers. Successful candidates sign a three-year return-of-service agreement with the Department of Health.
“In granting licensure, we ask ourselves, would we feel comfortable letting them look after our friends and family?” Dr. Laurie Potter, CEO for the College of Physicians and Surgeons of NB, stated.
“These physicians have undergone a robust assessment that confirms their competence as medical practitioners, and we’re pleased that through the program, thousands more New Brunswickers will have access to a primary care provider.”
Doctors will be working in communities including Moncton, Campbellton, Bathurst, Miramichi and Woodstock. Five will be offering services through Vitalite Health Network, and the other five through Horizon Health Network.
“This program is helping to address New Brunswick family physician recruitment needs by tapping into a pool of internationally trained physicians living and legally able to work in our province,” said Health Minister John Dornan.
“This was the first cohort with ten people, and the colleges are beginning to look at candidates for the next program. Those physicians will be starting the program in the fall, another 10,” Dornan adds.
He says that, on average, a physician will take 1,200 to 1,500 patients, so they expect to see 10,000 to 15,000 New Brunswickers less on the list of New Brunswickers in need of a family doctor.
This is the only bilingual practice-ready program in Canada.
