The future of general surgery in Canada

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Surgical Workforce Planning
• Public Health Policy

Background:

• Canadian Association of General Surgeons manpower studies indicate an annual need for 70 new general surgeons.
• Current certification rates by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada yield only 20-25 surgeons entering general practice.
• Existing training programs vary in length and content, with less than half of trainees gaining substantial research experience.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the current and projected supply of general surgeons in Canada.
• To identify deficiencies in current surgical training programs.
• To address the anticipated shortage of general surgeons in Canada.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of manpower studies from the Canadian Association of General Surgeons.
• Review of certification data from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.
• Assessment of general surgery training program structures and content.

Main Results:

• A significant deficit exists between the number of general surgeons needed and those entering practice.
• Current training programs are not consistently producing comprehensive community general surgeons.
• Governmental constraints and reductions in residency posts may exacerbate the shortage.

Conclusions:

• Urgent need for leadership to coordinate efforts between medical organizations, universities, and government.
• Recommendations for improving general surgery training programs to meet community needs.
• Addressing training and manpower requirements is crucial to prevent a worsening shortage of Canadian general surgeons.