How should we approach the issue of reversing the doctor shortage and temporizing the effect in the short-term over the looming cohort of Physicians set to retire? Due to government restrictions on education and training, the number of physicians per capita in Canada will fall between now and 2015, unless Canada relies on foreign-trained doctors to fill the gap, according to Canada’s Physician Shortage, released today by The Fraser Institute. The study also finds that future physician supply is best determined without direct government oversight and intervention.

This new study looks at the evolution of Canada’s physician supply over time and the factors that helped shape it. It also provides a sensible solution to the problem.

• Nadeem Esmail, Senior Health Policy Analyst, The Fraser Institute