Since 2010, the Canadian population has increased by 12% while Canadian admissions to medical school has only increased by 6% during the same timeframe. Statistics Canada reported in 2019 that approximately 4.6 million Canadians did not have regular access to a primary care provider.

Not only are admissions not increasing at the same rate as the Canadian population, but some Canadian medical students are unable to secure a residency position upon graduation. When medical school graduates are unable to secure a residency position, there are delays to them entering practice and providing care to Canadians.  Additional family medicine residency positions, especially in rural and underserved communities, are needed to increase the number of primary care providers available to Canadians.

AFMC presented to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health (HESA) in April as part of the Study on Canada’s Health Workforce. This study is aimed at understanding the current shortages facing the health care workforce in Canada and possible recommended solutions.

AFMC is asking the Government of Canada to work with provincial and territorial governments to increase admissions to medical school to match population growth and ensure the right number of residency positions for the system. This would contribute to an improved long-term strategy that ensures Canadians receive the health care they desperately need.