Internationally educated health-care workers finding it difficult to practise in Nova Scotia
There are a number of doctors and health care staff who recently arrived from Ukraine --- workers the Nova Scotia health-care system desperately needs.
But it seems getting credentials to practice in the province is proving to be a frustrating feat.
That’s why Dr. Aliks Shamlat finds himself at a career crossroads.
“Many people advised me to search for other work, but I am more than 50, I have many experiences in my life,” Dr. Shamlat says.
Most of the experiences he's talking about come from years of working as a general practitioner and gynecologist in Odessa, Ukraine.
He and his family landed in Halifax on June 23 after fleeing the Russian invasion. He was hopeful that a program run by the province to integrate Ukrainian health-care workers into its system would allow him to practice here, but he says he hasn't been getting the help he needs to become a part of the health-care industry.
“We can work, why not? We can work very hard. I’m thinking we can go to another job in the hospital. Not exactly like a doctor, maybe an assistant of the doctor, maybe an assistant for the laboratory, anything,” he says.
It’s those barriers and red tape facing health experts with international degrees that the leader of the Nova Scotia Liberal Party wants removed.
“We’ve got over 200 medical professionals here from Ukraine that I’ve heard are ready to work and eager to get going. We really do have to simplify the certification process without jeopardizing standards,” Zach Churchill says.
The standards Churchill refers to are the same ones Schamalat says he’s trying to reach.
“I asked, maybe I will go to some courses in Canada (to) improve in my level of experience or knowledge, but they don’t want (me to),” says Dr. Shamlat.
Data released by the province shows 4,300 people found a family practice last month. However, 5,500 people added their names to the registry looking for a doctor, an increase of 4.6 per cent. As of August 1, more than 105,000 Nova Scotians are on the registry, without a family doctor.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Work stoppage possible as WestJet issues lockout notice to maintenance engineers' union
A lockout notice issued by WestJet to a union representing aircraft maintenance engineers could result in a work stoppage next week.
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Bodies recovered in Mexico likely 2 Australians, 1 American who went missing: officials
Three bodies recovered in an area of Baja California are likely to be those of the two Australians and an American who went missing last weekend during a camping and surfing trip, the state prosecutor’s office said Saturday.
BREAKING London Drugs begins 'gradual reopening' on 7th day after cyberattack
Almost a week after all London Drugs stores across Western Canada abruptly closed amid a cyberattack, they began a "gradual reopening" on Saturday.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
Auston Matthews skates ahead of Game 7, status unclear with season on the line
Auston Matthews was back on the ice with his teammates Saturday.
Russia puts Ukrainian President Zelenskyy on its wanted list
Russia has put Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on its wanted list, Russian state media reported Saturday, citing the interior ministry’s database.
Snakes almost on a plane: U.S. TSA discovers a bag with small snakes in passenger's pants
According to an X post by the Transportation Security Administration, officers at the Miami International Airport found the small bag of snakes hidden in a passenger's trousers on April 26 at a checkpoint.