Despite Saudi Arabia’s reversal of the decision to withdraw its 1,100 medical residents from Canadian hospitals, the question remains, should Canada’s healthcare system continue to be subsidized by a foreign government.

The Saudi residents are paid by their home country, Saudi Arabia pays roughly $100,000 per trainee per year.  In 2018, Canadian teaching hospitals have employed roughly 4,100 residents, 800 or more from Saudi Arabia.

According to media reports if Saudi’s pull-out went forward, it would mean a sudden loss of 20 per cent of the residents.  As a result the shortage for teaching hospitals could lead to cancelled surgeries and elective admissions to hospital.

A MUHC source, who agreed to be interviewed on condition of anonymity told the Montreal Gazette that, “Without Saudi residents, our hospitals would collapse without enough manpower”,

Currently there are a total of 117 Saudi residents and fellows working at the Mcgill University Health Centre. Similarly there are 112 at Jewish General Hospital.

Furthermore, the MUHC announced in August they are developing contingency plans in case of another human-rights dispute between the kingdom and Canada.

Read more:

The imminent departure of Saudi medical residents/CBC.CA

MUHC drafting contingency plans after Saudi medical-residents crisis/Montrea Gazette