Editorial: Full marks for 'clinical assistants' program

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The provincial government is on the right track by introducing a new type of health professional, aimed at putting overseas-trained doctors to work in our struggling health-care system.

Frankly, this is one of the brightest ideas we’ve ever heard from the province. Whoever came up with it deserves some high praise.

The program will allow those whose physician credentials are not recognized in Canada to nonetheless help provide care, albeit under constant supervision in hospitals.

Over time, “clinical assistants” will see expanded responsibilities, including patient evaluations.

It’s an obvious win-win. The public can never hurt for extra sets of eyes and hands in hospital settings, especially as doctors are stretched ever thinner in providing care. Safeguards to ensure supervision should reassure any skeptics.

And for internationally trained doctors who’ve immigrated to Canada, this classification will allow them to work within their field and share their expertise with colleagues and patients.

Stories about immigrant doctors having to work menial jobs due to regulation and bureaucracy are common and frustrating – especially given the recruitment and retention challenges for health workers.

This new program will pay them fairly for real clinical work, without rolling back stringent rules to fully practise medicine in Canada. Let’s give the whole concept three cheers and look forward to welcoming more experienced workers into our hospitals.