Express Entry
Addressing Canada’s Healthcare Crisis: The Need for More Healthcare Express Entry Draws
Canada’s healthcare system is facing an urgent crisis. Over 74,000 Canadians have tragically lost their lives while waiting for medical care since 2018, and the situation is only worsening. As the shortage of healthcare professionals continues to grow, the need for a solution is more pressing than ever. Fortunately, Canada’s Express Entry system, which invites healthcare workers to apply for permanent residency, holds significant promise. However, experts argue that more healthcare Express Entry draws are essential to combat the growing healthcare crisis and fill the thousands of job vacancies in the sector.
Here, we will explore the current state of Canada’s healthcare shortage, how Express Entry draws can help address the issue, and why more draws are critical to saving lives and improving healthcare access across the country.
The Growing Healthcare Shortage in Canada
Canada’s healthcare system is stretched thin, with severe shortages of doctors, nurses, and support staff. The Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) reports that in 2022, there were a staggering 143,695 job vacancies in the healthcare sector, with a vacancy rate of 6%. This shortage is especially critical in provinces like Ontario, which is expected to need more than 33,000 nurses by 2032.
The aging population, increased demand for healthcare services, and burnout from the COVID-19 pandemic have exacerbated the crisis. As a result, wait times for critical medical procedures have skyrocketed, and Canadians are suffering while waiting for care.
The Human Cost of Canada’s Healthcare Waitlists
The numbers are staggering and heartbreaking. According to recent reports, over 74,000 Canadians have died while on healthcare waitlists since 2018. In 2023 alone, nearly 15,500 people lost their lives due to delays in receiving medical treatment.
In Nova Scotia, for example, 50 deaths in 2022-23 were potentially linked to waiting too long for critical procedures like cancer surgeries. Nationwide, wait times for treatments like diagnostic scans, surgeries, and consultations continue to climb. The median wait time for medical procedures has now reached 27.7 weeks, the longest on record.
These aren’t just numbers—they represent real lives, real families devastated by the lack of timely care.
Healthcare Express Entry Draws: A Solution Within Reach
Canada’s Express Entry system, which was revamped in 2023 to target healthcare professionals, has been seen as a potential lifeline for the healthcare system. The system invites skilled healthcare workers from abroad, such as doctors, nurses, and paramedics, to apply for permanent residency.
Since June 2023, the Express Entry system has invited nearly 16,000 healthcare workers to Canada through category-based draws. However, this number falls far short of the tens of thousands needed to fill the growing vacancies in the healthcare sector. For example, Ontario alone is projected to need 33,000 nurses by 2032, yet fewer than 10,000 healthcare workers are being invited annually through Express Entry.
Why Canada Needs More Healthcare Express Entry Draws
The data clearly shows the urgent need for more healthcare Express Entry draws. Despite the program’s potential to address the shortage, the current pace is not enough to make a significant impact. At this rate, Canada is inviting fewer than 10,000 healthcare workers each year, while the healthcare sector needs tens of thousands more.
Experts argue that if Canada were to increase the number of invitations issued through Express Entry, it could help fill critical gaps in the healthcare workforce more quickly. More draws would allow Canada to tap into a larger pool of global talent, ultimately reducing wait times and improving healthcare access for all Canadians.
The Challenges Faced by Immigrant Healthcare Workers
While Express Entry is a promising solution, foreign-trained healthcare professionals face significant barriers when coming to Canada. One of the biggest challenges is credential recognition. Many foreign-trained healthcare workers, including doctors and nurses, must go through lengthy and costly processes to have their credentials recognized in Canada. This often delays their ability to practice in the healthcare system and puts a strain on their ability to contribute to the workforce.
Language proficiency is another hurdle. Immigrant healthcare workers must meet Canada’s high language requirements, which can be difficult for many, especially those who are non-native English or French speakers.
Additionally, newcomers often face cultural and professional challenges, which can hinder their ability to integrate into Canada’s healthcare system. Despite these barriers, many foreign-trained healthcare professionals are eager to contribute to Canada’s healthcare system and fill the vacancies that are contributing to the crisis.
The Path Forward—More Healthcare Express Entry Draws Now
Canada has the tools to address its healthcare crisis, but the country must act faster. The Healthcare Express Entry draws are a promising solution to alleviate the shortage of healthcare professionals, but more draws are needed to make a real impact. By increasing the number of invitations issued each year, Canada can tap into the global talent pool, address critical healthcare vacancies, and reduce the deadly waitlists that continue to claim lives.
It’s clear that more healthcare Express Entry draws are essential to ensuring that Canada’s healthcare system can meet the needs of its citizens. The sooner the government takes action to ramp up these draws, the sooner the country can begin to heal its healthcare system and save lives. The clock is ticking—Canada’s healthcare system needs help, and more healthcare Express Entry draws could be the key to solving this crisis.
