ITPC

We are writing to call on the Doctors Manitoba to stand in solidarity with its Internationally Trained Physician (ITP) members. As you are likely aware, the B.C. Supreme Court recently ruled that Return of Service (ROS) agreements lack statutory authorization and most importantly, infringe on our constitutional rights. We expect that this decision will have implications across the country, including in Manitoba, where ITP-specific ROS agreements are currently in place.

We are writing to call on the Saskatchewan Medical Association (SMA) to stand in solidarity with its Internationally Trained Physician (ITP) members. As you are likely aware, B.C. Supreme Court recently ruled that Return of Service (ROS) agreements lack statutory authorization and most importantly, infringe on our constitutional rights. We expect that this decision will have implications across the country, including in Saskatchewan, where ITP-specific ROS agreements are curr

We are writing to call on Nova Scotia College of Family Physicians (NSCFP) to stand in solidarity with its Internationally Trained Physician members. As you are likely aware, B.C. Supreme Court recently ruled that Return of Service agreements lack statutory authorization and most importantly, infringe on our constitutional rights. We expect that this decision will have implications across the country, including in Nova Scotia, where ITP-specific ROS agreements are currently

We are writing to call on CFPC to stand in solidarity with its Internationally Trained Physician (ITP) members. As you are likely aware, B.C. Supreme Court recently ruled that Return of Service (ROS) agreements lack statutory authorization and most importantly, infringe on our constitutional rights. We expect that this decision will have implications across the country, wherever ITP-specific ROS agreements are currently in place.

We are writing to express our deep disappointment with the CMA newsletter’s coverage of the B.C. Supreme Court ruling on Return-Of-Service (ROS) obligations for Internationally Trained Physicians (ITPs). The one-sided framing of the ruling, focused primarily on its potential effect on those communities without acknowledging the experiences and perspectives of ITPs who have been subject to this mandatory obligation, is extremely concerning.

We are writing to express our deep disappointment with the joint statement issued on September 21, 2026. Our primary concern is the disconnect between this statement and Doctors of BC’s mandate to represent and advocate for physicians across British Columbia. 31.1% of practicing physicians in BC are ITPs. These physicians are Doctors of BC members and should reasonably expect their professional association to represent their interests when policies directly affecting them are

The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) has introduced a new registration policy that removes a significant examination requirement for certain internationally trained specialists. Under the policy, eligible physicians who completed specialty training and obtained specialist certification in an approved international jurisdiction may be issued a provisional certificate of registration without RCPSC certification.

📣 Research Highlight! One of our former directors and her colleagues’ published an article in the Canadian Family Physician Journal: “Internationally trained physicians in family medicine leadership”. It explores the discrepancies in ITPs in leadership when compared with the Canadian FM workforce data. Their results call for future research exploring leadership trends, factors accounting for ITPs’ underrepresentation, and strategies to overcome potential barriers.

During April to July 2026, ITPC’s advocacy efforts focused on advancing policy solutions to improve the integration of internationally trained physicians (ITPs) and ITP specialists into Canada's healthcare workforce. Key priorities included addressing primary care workforce shortages, expanding ladder-to-licensure pathways, improving the integration of ITP specialists including dermatologists, raising recency of practice as a major barrier, and strengthening system-level

findings suggest that Canada has a group of experienced ITPs with meaningful dermatology education whose skills remain substantially underutilized. The results can support further discussion about dermatology-specific assessment pathways, supervised or provisional practice opportunities, and more flexible pathways that recognize prior GP/FP and postgraduate dermatology training.

Canada’s healthcare system is experiencing sustained physician workforce shortages, reflected in reduced access to primary care, periodic emergency department closures, and growing pressure on healthcare delivery systems. The core challenge is not a shortage of qualified physicians. Rather, it is the absence of a structured and consistent pathway that enables ITPs progression from supervised clinical work to independent licensure. A ladder-to-licensure model addresses this ga

From January to April 2026, ITPC advanced a coordinated national advocacy strategy focused on reducing systemic barriers faced by internationally trained physicians (ITPs). Throughout this period, ITPC strengthened its role as a key national voice by grounding its advocacy in evidence from its Specialist ITP Report, ensuring that stakeholder engagement, policy discussions, and recommendations were consistently data-driven and reflective of real-world ITP experiences.

Internationally Trained Physicians of Canada (ITPC) welcomes the Government of Ontario’s decision to rescind the eligibility policy introduced on October 8, 2025, which impacted the 2025–2026 CaRMS R-1 residency match cycle across all Ontario programs.

From January to December 2025, Internationally Trained Physicians in Canada (ITPC) advanced sustained, coordinated advocacy at municipal, provincial, and national levels to address systemic barriers faced by internationally trained physicians (ITPs). Advocacy efforts spanned research, policy engagement, public education, legal action, and grassroots mobilization.

Canada’s Ethical Framework for the Recruitment and Retention of Internationally Educated Health Professionals (IEHPs) was developed to guide ethical and responsible practices in response to global health workforce shortages. Grounded in the WHO Global Code of Practice, the framework outlines principles and voluntary standards to support governments, regulators, employers, and partners in recruiting, integrating, and retaining IEHPs.

Specialist ITPs are diverse, experienced and highly skilled. With training from 45 countries around the globe, almost 90% of the respondent ITPs have more than three years of specialist training, and over half have more than five years of independent clinical practice. Although skilled ITP specialists have various pathways available in Canada, a labyrinth of barriers prevent most of them from accessing licensure; these barriers however are not without actionable solutions!

ITPC Welcomes Court Intervention on Ontario MOH's Discriminatory Eligibility Policy re: CaRMS 2025-2026 R-1 Match First Iteration

An Ontario judge has given a temporary lifeline to international medical school graduates who would have been excluded from qualifying for the first round of matching for medical school residency placements under the province's controversial new rule.

The Medical Council of Canada (MCC) has announced significant updates to the process for obtaining the Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada (LMCC), changes that aim to simplify, modernize, and accelerate one of the key steps in the licensure pathway for physicians.

A decade of global experience, top exam scores, and a Canadian citizenship — yet Ontario’s new medical residency rule now excludes Dr. Ashok Biswas from even applying in the first round. His story exposes how the system pushes internationally trained doctors to the margins while our communities face a worsening doctor shortage.