The Manitoba government says it has far exceeded its goal around physician recruitment.
In 2011 the province pledged to bring an additional 200 doctors to the province by 2015. The latest data shows there an extra 276 physicians.
“We have made significant investments in training and recruitment, and our efforts are working for Manitoba families,” said Health Minister Sharon Blady.
The province said that over the last year, 66 additional doctors are working in the province.
This year’s increase brings the total number of doctors in Manitoba to an all-time high of 2,748, the province said.
The province said more than 2,116 physicians are practising in Winnipeg, with another 632 working in Brandon, rural and northern Manitoba.
Provincial investments to train, recruit and retain more doctors include an expansion of medical school training seats and the addition of medical residency training positions, both at the University of Manitoba.
“We are pleased to partner with the government to address the health-care needs of our communities by educating and training more physicians to serve Manitobans around the province,” said Dr. Brian Postl, dean, college of medicine and dean, faculty of health sciences at the University of Manitoba.
The province also added rural residency training positions, including five in the northern and remote residency stream, beginning in 2013-14.
Also in place is a 60 per cent tuition rebate designed to help Manitoba retain medical graduates and attract physicians.
Blady said that with a record number of doctors, the province’s “family doctor for all” plan is on track to ensure that all Manitobans who want one will have access to a primary care practitioner by the end of 2015.
Since the program began in July 2013, more than 30,000 Manitobans have found a family doctor or nurse practitioner through the Family Doctor Finder Program, the province said.
The program is meant to offer Manitobans a convenient way to connect with a family doctor or nurse practitioner. To date, 95 per cent of registrants without a health-care provider have found one through the program, the province said.
— Compiled from a Government of Manitoba news release
