Manitoba’s record physician shortage is beginning to shrink, with new data showing that last year the province’s net gain of physicians was its highest ever.
This comes two years after the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce (MCC) partnered with Doctors Manitoba to release a joint report with recommendations to attract and retain more physicians to rural and Northern Manitoba.
The Manitoba government has announced it’s more than halfway to its goal of hiring 1,000 net new health care workers, which includes doctors: about 13 per cent of the 873 net new healthcare workers added between April 1 and August 31, 2024 are physicians.
Based on new reports from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba and the Canadian Institute for Health Information, Doctors Manitoba announced:
- A net gain of 133 more doctors last year – a record-breaking increase, with a previous high of 83.
- A 2% improvement in the number of physicians per capita – higher than any other province.
- Manitoba now has a shortage of 346 doctors – a significant improvement from the record shortage of 445 doctors last year.
While this news is encouraging, the province’s physician shortage remains high. Manitobans still face lengthy wait times for emergency and specialty care, testing and surgery, and more than 150,000 people don’t have a family doctor. Doctors Manitoba also shared that:
- Manitoba still ranks second last on physicians per capita in Canada, with only 219 physicians per 100,000 residents.
- For specialists Manitoba ranks third last, and for family physicians Manitoba is in last place. All these rankings are unchanged from last year.
- One in five physicians (688 doctors) are considering retiring or moving away from Manitoba in the next three years.
“Access to reliable, quality health care is important to our members and to all Manitobans, wherever they live in the province,” said Chuck Davidson, Manitoba Chambers of Commerce President & CEO. “While it’s encouraging to hear that we’re keeping more doctors, it’s still not enough. The province needs a strong health care system and enough physicians to serve everyone if it’s going to attract new residents and keep Manitobans from leaving.”
Several recommendations still need attention, including expanding team-based care in physician practices, supporting physicians in Manitoba with their recruitment efforts, and focusing on recruitment and retention for smaller specialty groups and communities struggling with chronic shortages.
Review the full analysis of new data in the latest annual report from Doctors Manitoba, Physicians in Manitoba (2024).