The importance of immigration for Canada’s healthcare scene

Immigration is the core sector that enriches Canada’s social and economic spheres. The contribution of immigrants Canada enjoys through the generations is remarkable. Canada has taken all the right steps to attract skilled and spirited immigrants. In return, they get the best opportunities to develop careers and find the best living and learning conditions in the world.

Healthcare is a major sector where the contribution of immigrants has been significant. There are 1.6 million people who work in Canada in this sector. Over 500,000 workers in this sector are over the age of 55. This means the country is in dire need to recruit young and skillful people in different positions including home healthcare staff, residential care staff, and nurses.

In the next decade, the number of new talents needed in this sector will be very high. This is the opportunity for immigrants as the educated and skilled candidates from the world over will be welcomed into Canada with work visas and Canada PR.

A brief list of the impact of immigration on Canada’s healthcare is as follows: 1) 1 out of 4 healthcare workers are immigrants

2) Over 40% of all newcomers to Canada between 2011 and 2016 working in the healthcare sector were doing important jobs in important areas like residential care facilities, nursing, and home healthcare services. Here’s the distribution of immigrants in the healthcare jobs in Canada as per the 2016 census by Statistics Canada.

Famous immigrants who left their mark in Canada’s healthcare sector

Dr. Naranjan S. Dhalla

An immigrant from India, he is a professor and research scientist who focuses on Cardiovascular health and therapy for heart disease. His accomplishments include:

• Founder and promoter of the International Academy of Cardiovascular Sciences and International Society for Heart Research
• A member of the Order of Canada
• Royal Society of Canada’s Fellow
• A recipient of the Order of Manitoba
• An inductee in Winnipeg’s Citizens Hall of Fame
• An inductee in the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame

Prof. Lakshmi P. Kotra

An immigrant from India, he has achieved the following in Canada:

• Leads an international association with India for developing drugs for malaria
• Discovered a new anti-malaria agent via his research at University Health Network in Toronto
• Winner of Research Excellence Award from Province of Ontario Premier
• Winner of Young Investigator Award from the Canadian Society for Pharmaceutical Sciences

Dr. Vladimir Hachinski

He’s a Ukrainian-Canadian immigrant. He’s an international authority in the field of Alzheimer’s research, dementia, and stroke. His achievements include:

• Contributor to the development of the HIS, a standard method of Identifying the treatable component of dementia
• Member of the Order of Canada in 2009

Dr. Julio Montaner

An immigrant from Argentina, Dr. Montaner has worked impactfully on stopping the transmission of HIV/AIDS in Canada. He is the man behind the HAART treatment which is globally recognized. His other achievements include:

• Winner of Albert Einstein World of Science Award
• R&D Health Research Foundation Medal of Honour
• A recipient of the Order of British Columbia
• An Officer of the Order of Canada
• The Head of the division of AIDS at the University of British Columbia

Many others like these personalities have earned Canada greatness in their own ways and have personally done the most of their potential.

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Note:

HAART - Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy

HIS - Hachinski Ischemic Score