As Nova Scotia grapples with a doctor shortage, one Syrian-trained surgeon says the province should make it easier for medical professionals new to Canada to practice in the province.
Published Monday, April 29, 2019 6:09PM EDT
Loai Al Rifai is one of them. He completed his medical degree in 2009 and spent two-and-a-half years working as an orthopedic surgeon in his native Syria. When he left Syria due to the civil war, he spent three years practising medicine in Jordan.Now in Canada, Al Rifai is not yet able to share his medical knowledge with Nova Scotian patients. Instead, he finds himself working at a hardware store in Halifax.
The exam is only one of several steps graduates of medical schools outside Canada have to take before they can practise in Nova Scotia. While exact requirements vary based on a prospective doctor’s history, they can involve multiple exams and a residency period. “If they don’t have the higher language level, it will take them at least six months to one year to improve their communication skills,” she said.
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