The Canadian Institute for Health Information says that more than 600 physicians left Canada in 2001, a 45% increase over the previous year (see related article, page 679). This figure, combined with the fact that only 334 physicians returned here, means that Canada suffered a net loss of 275 physicians in 2001. This represents a 68% increase over 2000 and the largest net loss since 1997, when it stood at 431 doctors. Most of the physicians moving abroad (72%) were specialists; of those, 64% had graduated from medical school 15 years ago or less.
The number of active physicians in Canada increased again in 2001, to 58 546, and the number of physicians per 100 000 population improved slightly, from 187 per 100 000 in 2000 to 188 per 100 000 in 2001. This is the highest ratio since 1995 but is still below the 1993 peak of 191 per 100 000.
The physician total is split evenly between specialists (49%) and family physicians (51%). Women continue to represent an increasingly larger share of the pool of practising doctors (30%); among family physicians, women account for 35% of the workforce.
The average age of physicians continues to rise, with specialists averaging 48.8 years, family physicians 46.4. Fifteen percent (9200) of the country's practising physicians are aged 60 or older. — Lynda Buske, Associate Director of Research, CMA