VANCOUVER, CANADA – Shalih Mamute is a foreign-trained cardiothoracic surgeon, but his education and training are not recognized in Canada. In order to support his family Shalih has taken a job at a local restaurant. By all accounts he is excelling.
“Shalih is our best employee” said owner Donny Furcole. “He is never late, is great with a knife, and always treats the customers really well.”
Shalih is very proud of his accomplishments at the restaurant but does wish to return to a life of medicine and surgery.
“While I do love my job and all my co-workers at the restaurant, I really desire to be back in a hospital” said Shalih. “I am hoping to get my education recognized here soon.”
Shalih is not alone in his plight, as many foreign-trained doctors find themselves in a similar position. The Canadian government remains strict and firm in it’s policies regarding foreign credentials of doctors.
“We will not budge on our current system” said Health Canada’s Dr. Nigel Fanning. “We have a great healthcare system here in Canada: millions are still looking for a family doctor, we have the longest wait-times in the ER in our country’s history, as well as record long wait-times for surgery. We’re doing just fine.”
