Health Canada has told employers in the past that they should be able to ask applicants for proofreading or proofreading services if they want them.
Now, a new study says the agency may be open to loosening the rules.
Article Continued BelowIn a new report, a health care staffing firm said it is still recommending that health care workers be licensed and have the necessary training to perform the tasks they need to do.
The report, released Monday, comes as health officials across the country grapple with the rise in prescription drug use and addiction among people in need.
It also comes amid concerns about how much of an impact the new regulations will have on some people, particularly those who are older and in nursing homes.
Health Canada is asking applicants to be more upfront about their credentials and credentials needs, including a requirement that applicants have had at least three years of post-secondary training, a medical diploma or a doctorate.
The training can take anywhere from a few weeks to two years, according to the report.
The institute recommends health care staff be licensed, but the agency also said it’s open to flexibility.
It would also allow for individuals who already have the required training and who are not currently licensed to apply for a medical exemption if they can show that they have not been in a position of authority for more than three years.
The new rules also apply to the hiring of new health care employees.
Health Canada’s chief medical officer, Dr. Susan Brown, said the agency is taking a cautious approach.
But Brown acknowledged that the current process is a “slow-moving and complex” one.
“We are constantly working to better understand the challenges that we are facing and to address the issues that we have,” she said.
Brown said she is confident that she can work with employers to find solutions.
“As we have learned, we are not the only ones who need to know what our roles are, and what our responsibilities are,” she added.
Health Minister Jane Philpott said she will soon make a recommendation to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, which she hopes to complete in the next two weeks.
