By CBC News |
The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario issued its first short-term, supervised licence in mid-March, and says those who get one of the licences can apply to extend it an additional 30 days.
International medical graduates who’ve passed their exams to practise in Canada, or have graduated from school in the past two years, can now apply for a supervised 30-day medical licence in Ontario to help fight COVID-19.
The short-term licence, called a Supervised Short Duration Certificate, allows some foreign-trained physicians and domestic medical school graduates to practise under supervision at public hospitals, psychiatric facilities and Crown agencies.
The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) began issuing the certificates last month — without an announcement — by triggering a provision in existing provincial legislation.
So far, few doctors have applied — although many likely don’t know it’s an option.
Vanig Garabedian didn’t, but now that he does, the Syrian refugee plans to apply for the licence. Garabedian worked as as an obstetrician and gynecologist in his native country.
“I have experience dealing with crisis,” Garabedian told CBC Toronto. “This is what I can do to pay back the country which gave my family and me another chance to survive.”