ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic has re-emphasized the importance of health workers in ensuring healthcare delivery as well as preparedness for sudden health shocks. The shortage of healthcare workers aggravated by the pandemic resulted in policies for attracting and retaining foreign health workers in receiving countries. On the other hand, countries such as India, the largest global supplier of health professionals, have launched schemes to boost the supply of health workers, to address domestic and global demand-supply gaps. However, a relatively less explored destination for Indian health workers is Canada, where around 39 per cent of doctors and 25 per cent of nurses were foreign-born in 2016 but a market that does not feature among the top destination countries for Indian health workers. This chapter examines the data on Indian health workers in Canada. It discusses the rising shares of not only Indian health professionals but also other categories of health workers in Canada. The study suggests the need to explore different approaches for collaboration between India and Canada, through enhanced bilateral economic ties that can be beneficial to the health systems of both countries.
