University looks to Grenada to address doctor shortage

Canada’s University of Waterloo is addressing the shortage of doctors which affects millions of Canadians through a new partnership with Grenada-based St George’s University School of Medicine, writes Asad Chishti for CBC News.

According to the Canadian Medical Association, more than 6.5 million Canadians do not have access to a family doctor, a number which continues to grow. Chris Houser, dean of University of Waterloo’s faculty of science, says the programme is a recognition of the limited medical school spots across the province and country.

“There is a large number of students who … never make their dream of going to medical school or are already going out of [the] country right from day one and have no affiliation, no connection back to Ontario to their home region,” Houser said. He said the “first-of-its-kind” programme in Canada allows students several benefits including building a relationship with their home region, guaranteed admission to an accredited medical school, and a pathway to practice back to Canada.
Full report on the CBC News site