Physician Assistant's are coming to Ontario

I just read an interesting article. It outlines a new program being offered through McMaster University. A two year program for a Physician Assistant (PA's). They are meant to be the interface between doctor, patient, and nurse.

I have concerns. We as ND's are not supported by many MD's because of our (perceived) lack of training in diagnosis and clinical knowledge. However, these students, who only need two years of university education (that does not have to be in the sciences), are going to be responsible for taking histories, knowing what questions to ask, and what tests to order.

ND's are required to have a minimum of three years of university education, and that education must include the minimum science courses to have a base to learn medicine from. Then we go through a four-year full-time program, followed by rigorous examination process. we are a government regulated profession in Ontario which protects the public from harm (something that these PA's won't have).

So tell me, is hiring a bunch of unregulated PA's really the best way to bridge the gap? And aren't nurse practitioners already doing a pretty bang-up job already?

Yours in Health,
Kerri