More foreign MD's licenced in Ontario.

Toronto -- Medical licences were issued by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario in 2005 to the highest number in 20 years. Increasing numbers of international medical graduates received practice certificates in the past two years.

In 2005, 39% of licenses were issued to IMGs, compared to only 27% in 1994. The foreign trained doctors continue to constitute 25% of the total College membership. The newly licenced foreign graduates received their medical education from 91 different countries.

The College has taken steps to facilitate the registration of foreign-trained physicians while maintaining existing standards of practice, College President Dr. Dale Mercer states.

The College calls for more action to maintain and increase the number of physicians. The actions include:

* increasing enrollment at Ontario medical schools;

* allow Canadian residents studying at international medical schools to apply for residency positions in their final year of medical school;

* continue to provide the necessary financial support to ensure that every IMG can be fairly assessed, and if eligible, provided with training;

* market Ontario as a great place for health professionals to work and encourage Ontario physicians practising elsewhere to return;

* create a health human resources planning body.

Over 10% of the CPSO membership is practising outside of Ontario.

www.cpso.on.ca