Caribbean top choice for Canadian medical students

A recent survey has found that the Caribbean is ranked as the number one destination of choice for Canadians to study medicine, although the tuition fee is much higher than that of Canada.

Among the medical schools highlighted in the Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS) survey are: St George’s University, Saba University School of Medicine, Ross University American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine, All Saints University School of Medicine, Dominica, and Windsor University.

CaRMS, a not-for-profit organization matches medical graduates with a post-graduate training position or residency in Canada. Without such training the candidates cannot practice as doctors in the Canadian healthcare system.

The survey also found that the number of Canadians studying medicine outside of Canada has more than doubled in the last five years.  The reality is that many of graduates may never get the chance to continue their training and to practice in Canada.

The findings are limited by having little access to Canadian students from the Caribbean medical schools, especially those in their clinical years.

The CaRMS survey, the first since 2006, identified approximately 80 schools in almost 30 countries as having Canadian students enrolled in medicine.

According to the CaRMS survey, 90 per cent of the students who study abroad would like to return home to practice but the process is not an easy for them.

Residents have received medical degrees and practice medicine under the supervision of licensed physicians, usually in a hospital or clinic.

CaRMS noted that Canadians mostly go to the Caribbean to study; Ireland comes in second as a place to get a medical degree. But there are also a growing number of schools in Poland, Australia and the Middle East.

It’s a question of basic math. Sandra Banner, the executive director and CEO of CaRMS, told the CBC. “This year I have 628 Canadians studying abroad in this match. The number of positions available for entry-level training is going to be around 400 positions. In addition we have 1,800 immigrant medical students who want to come to Canada. There definitely will be Canadian students who will not get back into Canada.”

There are now about 3,500 Canadians studying medicine overseas, which compares to about 10,500 in Canada.

The survey found that every year additional schools are offering international students the opportunity to study medicine. The majority of these programs target North American students. Banner says that foreign medical schools have become more aggressive about recruiting Canadian students.

CaRMS noted that Canadians mostly go to the Caribbean to study; Ireland comes in second as a place to get a medical degree. But there are also a growing number of schools in Poland, Australia and the Middle East.

The average annual tuition fees, according to CaRMS, for studying in the Caribbean is $25,608 compared to Canada’s $12,214.  Ireland costs $49,800, Poland $14,191,Australia $42,334 and the Middle East $16,336.

The survey suggested that students opt to study overseas because they have felt they would not be accepted into medical school in Canada, or would prefer not to wait several years through repeated attempts

Some Canadians apply to medical school two or three times before being admitted. The acceptance rate for first-time applicants in Canada is under 30 per cent. In the U.S. the success rate is 44 per cent.

The majority of Canadians studying medicine abroad are male, slightly older, single and with more post-secondary education than their medical student counterparts in Canada.   More of them have a parent who is a medical doctor. They mostly are residents of British Columbia and Ontario which have the lowest acceptance rates for medical school applicants.