Gastroenterology Numbers in Canada: A Comparison of Human Resource Databases

Several databases track gastroenterology (GI) human resource (HR) numbers in Canada. They differ in the data which they collect and, hence, in their estimates of GI HR. The two most likely to reflect current HR are the Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHI) and Canadian Medical Association (CMA) databases. The estimates of GI’s generated by each of the databases correlate closely with each other. Approximately 50 trainees enter the adult GI workforce per year, and approximately five enter the pediatric group. We estimate that Canada as a whole has between 782 and 848 GIs or 2.14 GIs per 100,000 population in 2016. Six of the 10 provinces have fewer than two GIs per 100,000 population. National GI numbers are increasing by 6% per year. Validation studies are required.