The evolving specialty community medicine in Canada.

Community medicine in Canada has its origin as a specialty in the 1970's and stems from a long and honourable tradition in public health practice which is now outmoded and no longer meets the significant challenges that face contemporary society. The forces that prompted the need for rethinking and reshaping can be traced to several events viz, deemphasis of institutional health care; avoidance of hazardous life styles; prepaid, universal medical care in a cold economic climate; firm governmental commitment to community health and the reshaping of legislation which will truly reflect the role of the modern public health agency and provide a clear mandate to boards of health in the delivery of those programmes which are considered basic by health professionals. As Canada attains selfsufficiency in training its own physicians, a virtual embargo has been placed on the entry of non-Canadians seeking employment in any medical discipline in all provinces. The nature and magnitude of the problems of manpower, supply and training in this country are briefly described.