The Manitoba government has unveiled details of one of the more ambitious items in its 2024 budget: hiring 100 new doctors by this time next year.
It’s part of a larger plan to attract, hire and retain a total of 1,000 health-care professionals in Manitoba.
Health minister Uzoma Asagwara said Thursday that the newly-created Health Care Retention and Recruitment Office is going to ensure the new hires end up staying in the province.
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“Manitoba has fewer doctors per capita than almost every other province,” said Asagwara.
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“People in Manitoba deserve better. Our new government is improving the culture in health care, and we will work as a united front with our partners to ensure that Manitobans can get connected with a family doctor faster, see a specialist, and get emergency care when they need it.”
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If the province reaches its goal of hiring 100 new doctors, it would be a new Manitoba record.
The plan has the stamp of approval from Doctors Manitoba, whose president called it an “ambitious commitment”, but an encouraging one.
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“Our province has one of the biggest physician shortages in Canada, and that has a direct impact on wait times, on access to a family doctor and the ability to see a specialist,” said Dr. Michael Boroditsky in a statement.
“Setting a bold target like this demonstrates a sincere commitment to turning this situation around. Achieving what has never done before will take a true partnership with all the players including physicians and we are ready to help.”
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