Fort St. John Welcomes Two New Family Doctors

Fort St. John is set to significantly improve healthcare access as two international medical graduates prepare to begin their practice. Dr. Manraj Khangura and Dr. Haroon Ahmed will start accepting new patients in September, immediately serving an estimated 3,000 individuals. This influx of physicians is anticipated to ease considerable pressure on the existing healthcare infrastructure.

Currently, many residents without a family doctor resort to using the emergency room for non-urgent care. The arrival of these two new doctors is expected to streamline primary care services, enabling regular check-ups, chronic disease management, and age-appropriate screenings. The city's residency program, which supports both Canadian and international graduates, is highlighted as a key factor in attracting and retaining physicians in the northern region.

These new practitioners will add to British Columbia's growing physician roster, which has seen nearly 1,500 new family doctors integrated since 2017. The province now boasts the highest number of doctors per capita nationally, with over 15,000 physicians serving its residents. Efforts to attract health professionals from abroad, including from the United States, are also contributing to this expansion.