Canadian physician Couz explains why Canadian doctors defect to the US. Attend a Canadian medical school for a fraction of the cost; work in the US for a significantly more lucrative work environment:
Much of it comes down to money. There is more of it in the States. Docs south of the border are paid considerably more (in the private system, at least) than here in Canada. Higher income brackets also pay less in taxes in the U.S. In many specialties, the resources are easier to come by– anecdotally, I’ve heard of docs being lured with the promise of less call, shorter wait times for investigations and specialist consults, labs filled with willing grad students to complete your every academic bidding, shiny new clinics with nurses (also making more than their Canadian counterparts) and physician’s assistants happy to take the scut and paperwork off your hands… a virtual utopia for a new physician.
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- Call and extreme hours kills a doctor
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{ 16 comments }
As a soon to be doctor in the USA, I think there should be a penalty for non-US trained physicians to enter our country to practice.
It’s not fair that I have to rack up $250K in education debt, then enter a work force diluted with foreign educated physicians who don’t have the educational debt. They are willing to work for less money and their numbers also drive down salaries.
Foreign educated docs should be forced to pay some extra tax equal to the average medical school debt, paid over time, to enter this country and practice.
Ohhh poor Justin. Life is so unfair. People with your attitude make me sick.
I’m curious as to where Couz found that statistic. I also think a good majority of that so-called 30% would be moving to a different province, not out of the country. On the annual doctor surveys they send out to all docs registered with the College of Family Physicians of Canada, nowhere near 30% said they planned to leave, and almost all of those that did said it would be to another province.
But you know what Justin? As a Canadian I agree. There would be less docs going south of the border if there was some sort of tax.
Alternatively, you could always apply to med school up here…it might be cheaper that way, even though they charge more for international students.
I got the stat from a Globe and Mail article that ran last week or so. It said (as I said in my blog) that 30% leave the region, but doesn’t define region. It may well be simply leaving the province.
But the point of my post remains the same– any canadian-trained doctor who leaves Canada to practice in the US should be required to pay back their taxpayer-subsidized medical education to the system that trained them. That part Kevin left out in his hurry to again reiterate that the American system is better. Which is, of course, NOT what I said. But if you take my quote out of context, that’s certainly what comes across.
Anon 10:45,
Why does it make you sick?
i met a few canadian doctors when i was in florida. they come here for the nice weather. one was a smart doctor. the other one was an empty person.
I agree that there should be systems in place to keep Canadian docs out of the US but not because I am a doctor in the US, but because I am Canadian. In many places in Canada the health care system is HORRIBLE!! Trying to find a new doctor can be a huge pain, and some of the wait times for specialists are ridiculous. I am subsidizing these Canadian doctors’ educations with my tax dollars and then paying the price in the form of crappy care when they leave. If these docs decide to screw over the people that helped provide their education in order to receive a higher salary in the US, fine, but the gov should have systems in place to keep them stealing our tax money before doing so.
Oh relax. There is in actuality only a small percentage going to the States, and recently we have more docs returning than leaving.
This is not what is causing the shortage. In the early 90’s a flawed economic report caused med school places to be cut by 10%, resulting in thousands less trained doctors over the years. In 2000, med schools opened up more spots, but we won’t see results for a while.
Waht really gets me is that we also have qualified foreign doctors who would be more than happy to work here, but who find the obstacles to getting certification here almost insurmountable.
I am sick of this Canadian atitude of “I am susidizing them with my tax etc”
Wake up – its a socialist country you are subsidizing everyone in Canada who goes to any kind of educational institution , whether its a plumbing training college or med school.Start whining about all the plumbers moving south next- they should really stay and fix your crapper for CAD 29 (PCP consult fee) rather than move to the Great Satan.
Idiots.
Um…sorry, what Canadian attitude?? There was one complaint on here, from someone we don’t even know for sure is Canadian, and the other was from an American.
The election results speak for themselves – Canadians have no problem supporting education of our citizens with tax dollars. If we did, we wouldn’t elect a government that places more emphasis on public investment than tax cuts.
The only reason this is an issue is because med tuition is more expensive than regular grad school tuition, and we have a doctor shortage up here. We don’t have a plumbing shortage.
Let me guess – you’re an embittered Canadian doc who went to the States to make more money.
See these articles for the truth:
Numbers leaving:
http://www.pnhp.org/news/2005/august/more_doctors_returni.php
Salaries:
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20061004/ont_doctors_061004?s_name=&no_ads=
So why should I not complain about something I am paying for but not receiving? If plumbers were leaving the country during a plumber shortage I would be just as concerned. Since when did the “everybody else does it” excuse come back into style?
I hate all doctors in North America! They are all money hungry animals and the governmets are their dogs. Period!
I’m a Canadian Doctor with Three specialities. Believe it or not I can’t find a job in a decent part of Canada. All I keep hearing is move to some little hick town and set up shop there. I spent over 12 years of my life working on my career. Why should I not get the lifestyle I deserve? I’m moving to the US as soon as I can. And as for the notion that I owe anything to the Canadian taxpayer….forget it. 6 years of working as a resident more than adequetly covers any cost the taxpayer incurred in paying for my education.
Well said.
A medical resident is still a student. They are still learning. They are not doctors.
Canadian medical grads have their residencies in taxer-payer funded hospitals. We pay for their training.
The “plumber” argument doesn’t hold water. Sorry bad pun. Plumbers don’t get their most valuable training (ie residency) in a publicly funded facility.
Universities reserve medical school spots for residents of their respective provinces. Also, as was mentioned before, I would imagine that part of their tuition comes from tax-payer dollars.
That being said, the Canadian public “owns” Canadian doctors. They should be forced to practice here for at least 5 years after their residencies.
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