International medical graduates (imgs) in Canada and the Netherlands: Can the Dutch learn from Canadian experiences? A survey among academic stakeholders in Canada

Abstract

International Medical Graduates (non-Canadians with medical degrees obtained outside Northern America) often face challenges in securing employment as medical doctors when entering a new country. By exploring the policy of Canadian authorities in dealing with IMGs, the researchers tried to learn lessons for IMG policies in the Netherlands. In the Spring of 2016 a Dutch researcher specialized in migration of non-European doctors in the Netherlands visited selected medical schools in Canada (Quebec, Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia) and the Medical Council of Canada. The purpose of this visit was to explore the opportunities for International Medical Graduates (IMGs) to continue practice in their medical profession after migration to Canada. Canada is well known for the way it deals with highly skilled migrants. The research question was: What best practices or policies about IMGs in Canada could possibly be adopted by the Netherlands?