Medical residents are having a hard time finding posts in Quebec, forcing them to do their training outside of the province while waiting to be assigned work.
In an interview with La Presse Canadienne, Fédération des médecins résidents du Québec president Christopher Lemieux said the residencies in the province are getting increasingly saturated and that the reorganization of the public health system is largely to blame.
For the last two years, posts are given strictly to those studying in certain specialties, Lemieux said, adding that the effects of poor planning for those entering the field of medicine are now being felt.
One example is that new operating rooms need to be constructed to allow new surgery residents to work, said Lemieux.
Waiting to find work, certain medical students are finishing their training outside of Quebec — even though they want to work in the province.
“There are some who leave without a residency and return hoping to have one (in Quebec). So some years, many are trying to apply for the same post,” said Lemieux.
He said reducing the number of admissions in Quebec medical schools would help as the province is no longer lacking the doctors it was 10 years ago.
“The effect of reducing admissions in medicine now would only be felt in 10 years. These are things that must be planned far in advance so we can train doctors in a responsible manner,” said Lemieux.
“Our members want to stay in Quebec, but if Quebec cannot offer a residency, they must leave.”
The FMRQ held a jobs fair last week where some 850 residents met with representatives of hospitals and clinics.
