Canadian Hellenic Medical Society Welcomes Upcoming Bill on Recognition of Canadian Specialties

The Canadian Hellenic Medical Society is pleased to share encouraging news for Canadian diaspora physicians.

During a brief exchange at the Syros General Hospital, where the Greek Minister of Health, Adonis Georgiadis, was visiting to review local healthcare services, CHMS Vice President Dr David Rossolatos had the opportunity to connect with him.

The Minister noted that Canadian-trained and Australian-trained diaspora physicians are being considered in government planning, and confirmed that a bill for the automatic recognition of Canadian and Australian medical specialties and subspecialties is expected to be introduced in the Hellenic Parliament this September.

This would represent a landmark step toward enhancing physician mobility and medical knowledge sharing between Greece and Canada,” said Dr. Rossolatos. We welcome the Minister’s acknowledgment of this issue and look forward to the formal announcement of the bill.

Minister Georgiadis was in Syros to inaugurate the new Oncology Unit at Syros General Hospital — a donation by philanthropist Antonis Komninos. Beginning October 1, 2025, oncology patients from Syros and across the Cyclades will be able to receive treatments locally, without the need to travel to Athens. This development marks a significant improvement in access to care for the region.

The proposed legislative change for automatic recognition carries important implications for Canadian-trained physicians of Greek heritage:

• It will facilitate greater physician mobility between Canada and Greece
• It will enable Greece to leverage advanced training and expertise from abroad
• It will promote knowledge exchange and collaboration that benefit patients and healthcare systems in both countries

The Canadian Hellenic Medical Society has consistently advocated for stronger professional links between Canada and Greece. This announcement signals a promising step forward in supporting diaspora physicians and strengthening bilateral healthcare cooperation.