Internationally trained doctor set to leave Canada for greener pastures.

An internationally trained doctor who resides in Regina is soon to be leaving Canada after seven years of being unable to secure his medical license to practice.

An internationally trained doctor in Regina is leaving Canada after seven years of being unable to secure his medical license to practice.

Ken Katas arrived in Canada with his family in 2015 after he heard there was a need for doctors.

“I thought it was a good opportunity for me to continue my medical practice in Canada,” said Katas. “I had high hopes.”

That hope was met with disappointment. He said he took the medical qualifying exam three times, yet he was unable to pass. He said he is not alone.

“They are many people like me, and many people that have also passed the qualifying exam, and yet they don’t have a placement,” Katas said.

A placement in the Saskatchewan International Physician Practice Assessment (SIPPA) ensures that internationally trained physicians possess adequate clinical skills and knowledge to practice medicine in Saskatchewan.

The SIPPA Medical Director stated there are more applicants than available places.

“Our assessment is a 12-week workplace, field assessment,” said Jon Witt. “The assessment is handled by the same physicians providing patient care in the rural Saskatchewan, in the ER departments, clinics environment and in the hospitals.  So, we are asking them to not only work hard, but also to do this assessment on top of training medical students and residents.”