A new report shows that an increased amount of physicians are practicing in Manitoba.
In the report done by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba, it says that as of April 30th, 2019, 2,982 licensed medical practitioners are working in the province, with an increase of 80 doctors from last year. The increase is slightly above the net increase recorded in 2018 of 78 and is just under the 10-year high of 83.
Since 2016, 214 more doctors have started working in Manitoba, including 74 outside of Winnipeg.
Health, Seniors and Active Living Minister Cameron Friesen says that the number will continue to grow in years to come, thanks to the development of a rural residency program through the University of Manitoba. The program allows medical residents to learn more about rural medicine and allowing physicians to better respond to the needs of Manitoba communities.
The Northern Regional Health Authority is the latest to adopt the rural residency program after seeing the successes in the Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority, Southern Health, and Prairie Mountain Health.
The U of M offers a northern remote residency program that serves communities in northern Manitoba, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut.
The new report on physician numbers comes a month after a new master agreement was reached with Doctors Manitoba. The agreement supports Manitoba’s efforts to maintain reasonable costs in the health system
while introducing ways for the government and doctors to work together to address shared interests in the delivery of health services.
You can see the physician statistics report on the College’s website
