The math is bleak even if we only look at Canada, Australia, the UK and the USA. Combined, these four countries will be short more than 200,000 by 2030. Based on this prediction, Canada cannot expect to solve its doctor shortage by recruiting more foreign-trained physicians.

NL may be on the cusp of getting its surgical backlog under control, but if that does not happen the Fraser Institute has calculated how much it will cost Newfoundlanders in lost income and the government in lost income tax revenue - the numbers are staggering and they may be on the low side.

When Premier Tommy Douglas first proposed the idea of a public healthcare system in Saskatchewan he focused on universality and the importance of preventative care. He recognized the importance of focusing on preventive measures to improve the overall health of the population and reduce the burden of illness on the healthcare system.

There is no doubt that more money would solve some of Canada's healthcare problems; however, Canada is already spending more per capita than most other OECD nations, yet we are not achieving the results they are.

Potentially, a better way to increase healthcare capacity and physician efficiency is to train, retain and recruit more nurses from abroad. While nurses are also in short supply globally, they seem more plentiful and easier to recruit.

In the ever-evolving landscape of healthcare, virtual hospital care has emerged as a transformative solution that holds immense promise for improving healthcare delivery in Canada.

The issue most cited for Canada's healthcare crisis is the shortage of doctors, but our doctors are not to blame. If our doctors and nurses were the "cause" of our problems, we would be in good shape.