Premier Doug Ford of Ontario recently announced a new initiative to increase the number of doctors in the province. As part of this plan, Ford is proposing to stop admitting new foreign students to medical schools and is offering free tuition to 1,360 Ontarians. In return for the free education, these individuals would need to commit to working as doctors in Ontario for at least five years after completing their studies.
This move is aimed at addressing the shortage of healthcare professionals in the province and ensuring that there are enough doctors to meet the needs of the population. By incentivizing local students to pursue careers in medicine, Ford hopes to improve access to healthcare services for Ontarians.
The initiative has received mixed reactions, with some praising the government’s efforts to increase the number of doctors, while others raise concerns about restricting access to medical education for foreign students. Despite the controversy, Ford remains committed to his plan to bolster the healthcare workforce in Ontario.