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Huron Expositor, 2006-08-02, Page 9ssf»04-.10,tor 0. 0,0,4 10,01v '. .•.rs News `Grassroots' farmers promoting Russian doctors Steve Webster asking Huron -Bruce politicians to smooth path for foreign physicians The Huron Expositor • August 2, 2006 Page 9 Cheryl Heath The grassroots movement is hoping a Huron County - based grassroots style cam- paign will prove successful in bringing two Russian - trained doctors to the area. Steve Webster, who recently made headlines by leading a five-week sit-in style farm protest at Queen's Park, is leading the charge, and is currently housing one-half of the hus- band and wife medical team who hail from Omsk, Siberia, at his Blyth -area farm. That doctor, Dr. Andrey Yuryevich Goldyrev, who specializes in neurology, is currently making the •rounds with Webster who is asking area officials, includ- ing Huron -Bruce MPP Carol Mitchell and Huron -Bruce MP Paul Steckle, to stream- line what is admittedly an intensely bureaucratic process. Webster, who acknowl- edges the grassroots move- ment still has a lot on its plate when it comes to agri- cultural issues, says area farmers decided to rally to the Russian couple's aid as it believes the doctor -short- age issue is hitting rural areas especially hard. "The doctor -shortage crisis is only going to get worse," says Webster. "You can build million -dollar clinics but it doesn't matter if you don't have the doctors." And, says Webster, when an opportunity to draw two new doctors to the area pre- sents itself, it only makes sense for the community to respond by rolling out the welcome mat. "We can make the impos- sible happen," says Webster. So far, says Webster, pre- liminary feedback, including callers while Webster and the doctor were on a radio program, is positive. He says there have also been promising meetings held with area health-care pro- fessionals. The major stumbling block, says Webster, is the rules and regulations spelled out by the Ontario College of Physicians and Surgeons, which basically block Andrey and his wife Olga, who specializes in pediatrics, from working here in spite of the fact their qualifications are enough to allow them to practice in the United States. Andrey, who is currently studying English, says he and his wife want to work in Canada because they are advocates of the universal health-care system, and that they like that a patient can receive treatment "without having to bring out a credit card." One of the first steps in the right direction, says Webster, is for the couple to acquire a grassroots' style level of support so that they can acquire the proper. papers to stay here while working towards their accreditation with the college. They are already enrolled in a language program for the fall. "This has got to be a major community con- cern," says Webster. In essence, Webster says, a long-term com- mitment to the couple. will see Huron County reaping the benefits from the two doctors who will pledge to practice here once their accreditation is earned and all of the proper paperwork is in order. Webster adds while on the surface it may seem odd for the farmers to take on the doctors' cause, he says the situa- tion- illustrates another fine example of how bureaucracy muddies the waters even during a cri- sis situation. In three years, says Webster, the doctor - shortage issue will be an even bigger problem than it is today. Compound that fact with the understanding that more people from the Baby Boom genera- tion will be reaching an age when they need more medical attention, and it is easy to see a major crisis will face the region in the next decade to come. Webster, who also dri- ves a transport truck to keep his farm afloat, notes he knows of anoth- er foreign trained doctor who works as a truck driver in Leamington. It is situations like that, he says, that leave him shaking his head in dis- belief. "Canadian -trained doctors are the ideal,_ I agree," he says, adding it nonetheless takes seven years to train new doctors while the Russian couple would be ready to practise in three years under the current rules. He adds it is absurd that there are 400 foreign - trained doctors in Ontario that meet the standards, but are not practising due to bureaucratic stumbling blocks. "We really don't feel the government has the political will to solve this problem," says Webster, noting per- haps a campaign fueled by the general public will do the trick. Webster and Goldyrev are urging area residents to con- tact Steckle and Mitchell to support the endeavour. Get what you need when you need it. • Fixed or Variable Rates • Flexible Paymen Options • Competitive Interest Rates air The TD Canada Trust Agriculture Term Loan. Why not make this the year you improve your farm? 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