Ontario college seeks three-month independent practice licence for out-of-province doctors

A new class of registration put forward by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) will allow doctors from other parts of the country to pitch in temporarily in the province for as long as three months and without a requirement for supervision. If approved by the Ontario government, the proposed regulation would also allow for a broader range of system sponsors, including those in community-based setting, according to CPSO spokesperson Shae Greenfield. “The intent of the proposed regulation is to provide a more flexible option that supports potential applicants who wish to assist with system needs on a temporary basis, enabling them to practice at full scope and reducing the administrative burden for all involved,” wrote the college in its publication, eDialogue. “Regulatory amendments enabling the creation of a new class of registration would fill a gap between existing classes, and support a more timely and robust mechanism for movement within Canada." Read: Fixing the national licence crisis Issuance of the temporary licence would be based on applicants meeting registration requirements and on demonstrable need as approved by the college. Successful applicants would need to pay the equivalent of 25% of the college’s annual registration fee of $1,725. An existing short-duration certificate—good for 30 days and requiring supervision—will stay in place. According to an Aug. 18 letter from the college to Ontario’s Health Minister Sylvia Jones, the short-duration certificate, “which can be used to manage urgent health system needs and is available to internationally educated physicians” was used throughout the pandemic. Read: Do it now: OMA calls for more foreign-trained docs, hospice beds and creation of central ambulatory centre Between May 2022 to the end of September, the short-duration certificate was used 18 times to provide urgent coverage in Ontario hospitals. This included licensing Manitoba physicians to provide coverage in Northern Ontario. The proposed three-month temporary licence would provide a “more comprehensive and flexible alternative for physicians in these kinds of instances,” wrote the college. The provincial government has since asked the college to move forward with a regulatory amendment reflecting the new temporary licence. Read: Isn't it time to reduce fees for older docs?

Ontario college seeks three-month independent practice licence for out-of-province doctors

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