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Montreal, November 16, 2010 – Quebec’s faculties of medicine assess all candidates for residency on the basis of their skills and their ability to complete the program, regardless of whether they are Quebec or foreign trained, and ethnic-based discrimination plays no part in the selection process. The province’s four universities with faculties of medicine have a different interpretation of the situation revealed in a report by the Quebec Human Rights Commission made public today.

The faculties of medicine acknowledge that international medical graduates (IMGs) face different challenges. In fact, the faculties have already implemented measures to increase the number of IMGs accepted for residency and they continue to improve the admission and support process. Among the services they offer are acclimatization programs for newly admitted IMG residents, information days to help candidates prepare and submit their applications, and brochures detailing the residency admission process. Starting next year, additional training will be available to help applicants upgrade their skills and acquire more clinical experience to improve their chances of being admitted to a residency program.

“Leaving residency positions vacant does not serve the interests of either the faculties of medicine or Quebec society,” said Dr. Rénald Bergeron, President of the Conference of Deans of the Faculties of Medicine in Quebec and Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Université Laval. “Quebec needs all the doctors our universities can train. However, medical residents spend their days caring for patients and it is the responsibility of the faculties of medicine to ensure patient safety.”

While the equivalence of a foreign medical degree must be recognized by the Quebec College of Physicians before a candidate may apply for residency, that process does not measure an IMG’s experience, clinical skills or understanding of North American practices.

The faculties of medicine are taking the recommendations of the Human Rights Commission report into consideration and will continue working to increase the number of foreign-trained doctors accepted in Quebec residency programs.

Source :
Chantal Pouliot, Director of Communications
Conference of Rectors and Principals of Quebec Universities
514 288-8524, ext. 244