A System That Welcomes Us but Won’t Let Us Work" Dr. Therese Bichay Testifies Before the House of Commons on Barriers Facing ITPs.

On October 23, 2025, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health (HESA) convened to discuss “The Impact of Immigration Policy on Healthcare and Barriers to Integrating Internationally Trained Professionals.” Among the witnesses was Dr. Therese Bichay, an ITP originally from Egypt, who brought a powerful first-hand perspective on how current policies continue to prevent qualified doctors, who are ready to serve Canadians, from practicing medicine.

A Voice for Thousands of Unheard Physicians

Dr. Bichay opened her remarks by sharing her journey, from practicing family medicine in Egypt to navigating the complex and disheartening process of obtaining a medical license in Canada. Despite passing all required exams, verifying credentials, and even working in Canadian hospitals as a physician navigator, she remains unable to practice medicine independently.

She described the irony of an immigration system that awards points to physicians as “skilled workers” yet offers no functional path to licensure upon arrival. “The profession we were selected and welcomed for,” she said, “becomes instead a closed door.”

The Human and Systemic Cost of Practicing in Canada

Dr. Bichay’s testimony emphasizes how these barriers extend beyond the physicians themselves, affecting patients and communities across Canada.

“More than 6.5 million Canadians do not have access to a family doctor,” she reminded the Committee. “When qualified physicians are blocked from practice, patients suffer. This is not just a professional issue. it’s a national healthcare issue.”

She detailed the emotional and financial burden of maintaining “recency of practice,” often requiring ITPs to return overseas every few years to keep their skills current, a requirement that Canada offers no local means to fulfill.

A Call for Change

Dr. Bichay urged Parliament to take immediate action to create clear, standardized, and equitable licensing pathways across provinces. Among her key recommendations:

• Expand residency positions and ensure equitable distribution for international graduates.

• Standardize Practice-Ready Assessment (PRA) programs across Canada.

• Establish structured opportunities for ITPs to maintain and demonstrate recent clinical experience within Canada.

• Create supervised or transitional licenses that meaningfully lead to full licensure.

Her words resonated deeply with ITPC’s ongoing advocacy: removing systemic barriers, ensuring fairness in licensing, and allowing highly trained physicians to contribute to a healthcare system in crisis.

The Bigger Picture

Dr. Bichay’s testimony joins a growing movement of ITPs, health leaders, and policymakers calling for reform. While organizations such as the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) and the Federation of Medical Regulatory Authorities of Canada (FMRAC) also participated in the session, Dr. Bichay’s lived experience offered an irreplaceable perspective, one rooted in service, perseverance, and the desire to give back to her adopted home.

Conclusion

Dr. Therese Bichay’s presence in the House of Commons marked more than just testimony, it was a voice for thousands of ITPs across Canada who continue to wait for meaningful access to practice.

At ITPC, we echo her message: welcoming skilled physicians must come with the opportunity to serve. Barriers to licensure don’t just hurt physicians, they leave patients without care and communities without doctors.

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