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Dr. Nichelle Desilets, president of Doctors Manitoba (Tim Smith \/ The Brandon Sun files)<\/p>\n
\u201cRetention is as much of an important issue as recruitment. It\u2019s one thing to get a doctor to come to the area, but it\u2019s another to retain them.\u201d<\/p>\n
The organization that represents Manitoba\u2019s doctors said the number of physicians per 100,000 residents climbed to 225 this year, a gain of 2.5 per cent from 2024.<\/p>\n
The annual \u201cPhysicians in Manitoba\u201d report said Manitoba needs 246 additional doctors to meet the national average of 241. That\u2019s a decrease from a high of 445 two years ago.<\/p>\n
Both figures were compiled by the Canadian Institute for Health Information.<\/p>\n
Manitoba had a record increase of 164 docs last year, bringing the total number of physicians to 3,498, as reported by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba in September.<\/p>\n
\u201cManitoba is climbing out of a record physician shortage, thanks to strong recruitment efforts and record increases over the last two years,\u201d Desilets said. \u201cIt took years for the shortage to get as deep as it was, and we are digging out faster than we anticipated.\u201d<\/p>\n
On the negative side of the register, Doctors Manitoba called attention to troubling results from a survey it conducted of its members.<\/p>\n
In total, 1,318 fully licensed physicians responded to the survey, representing 38 per cent of members. Of those, 21 per cent \u2014 or 710 physicians \u2014 said they are considering retiring or leaving the province in the next three years.<\/p>\n
When the option of reducing hours was added to the equation, the figure rose to 43 per cent of doctors.<\/p>\n
Over the past five years, the province has lost an average of 155 physicians annually due to departures or retirement, Doctors Manitoba said.<\/p>\n
\u201cRetention is as much of an important issue as recruitment. It\u2019s one thing to get a doctor to come to the area, but it\u2019s another to retain them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fifty-five per cent of the physicians intending to leave have their sights set on B.C., while 38 per cent are eyeing Alberta. Another 35 per cent are considering heading to Ontario, 23 per cent are looking south of the border and the rest are exploring elsewhere in Canada or abroad, the survey found.<\/p>\n
Manitoba saw a net loss of 8.3 physicians per 1,000 people to other provinces last year, ranking it second worst among the provinces, according to Canadian Institute for Health Information data.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would say to those doctors, \u2018We\u2019re listening, we hear you loud and clear,\u2019\u201d Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re doing the work to make health care in Manitoba a much more attractive place for physicians to work, and again, we\u2019re seeing improvements in these numbers but we know we need to do more.\u201d<\/p>\n
The minister said work is ongoing to reduce workloads and administrative burdens.<\/p>\n
Opposition Leader Obby Khan said the addition of new physicians in recent years has done little to improve wait times in emergency rooms.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnother song and dance announcement and report saying, \u2018We\u2019ve hired X amount of doctors, X amount of doctors,\u2019 but where are they?\u201d Khan said.<\/p>\n
He suggested lowering taxes for high-income earners, describing proposed tax hikes in the latest NDP budget as \u201ca doctors\u2019 tax.\u201d<\/p>\n
Desilets noted there is a national shortage of doctors.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur problem is a problem that is shared everywhere. That means other provinces are potentially recruiting Manitoba physicians,\u201d Desilets said. \u201cEven for those who are happy here and who have had a really fulfilling career here, there are still lots of challenges.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt took years for the shortage to get as deep as it was, and we are digging out faster than we anticipated.\u201d<\/p>\n
Frustration over administrative burden, siloed electronic record systems, and a lack of access to equipment and facilities are key drivers of physician burnout and distress, Desilets said.<\/p>\n
Provincial initiatives to address those concerns, such as an ongoing overhaul of the medical record system, have helped, but more is needed, she said.<\/p>\n
Reducing surgical wait times and increasing access to diagnostic imaging and medical transportation are critical components \u2014 as is ensuring physicians are involved in high-level policy decisions.<\/p>\n
\u201cPhysicians who are on the front lines\u2026 feel that they are constantly being asked to do more with less, and that can lead to a sense of moral injury,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
The report found that 56 per cent of doctors are experiencing distress and 48 per cent reported high burnout.<\/p>\n
Doctors Manitoba said it has spearheaded initiatives to provide early career support, mentorship, leadership training and enhance peer and physician mental health support.<\/p>\n
Another worrisome factor highlighted by the report relates to current students and residents in the province: only 60 per cent of them plan to stay in Manitoba.<\/p>\n
Some in this group are considering relocating for personal or family reasons, but others cited frustration with system issues, administrative burdens, better recruitment incentives and a sense of not being valued in Manitoba, the report found.<\/p>\n
Desilets said the province must prioritize proactively reaching out to new grads and make it easy for them to find their preferred jobs.<\/p>\n
Dr. Peter Nickerson, dean of the Max Rady College of Medicine and Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, said up to 75 per cent of graduating medical students complete their residencies in Manitoba.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur problem is a problem that is shared everywhere.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cUM works collaboratively with our partners and government to provide our graduates an opportunity to continue their medical training here,\u201d he said in an email statement.<\/p>\n
The number of Manitoba graduates starting practice in the province last year totalled 70, declining from a record high of 87 in 2021.<\/p>\n
The Manitoba Medical Student Association did not respond to a request for comment sent Thursday morning.<\/p>\n
\u2014 with files from Carol Sanders<\/p>\n
tyler.searle@freepress.mb.ca<\/p>\n
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Tyler Searle Tyler Searle is a multimedia producer who writes for the Free Press\u2019s city desk. A graduate of Red River College Polytechnic\u2019s creative communications program, he wrote for the Stonewall Teulon Tribune, Selkirk Record and Express Weekly News before joining the paper in 2022.\u00a0Read more about Tyler<\/a>.<\/p>\n Every piece of reporting Tyler produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print \u2014 part of the Free Press\u2018s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press\u2019s history and mandate<\/a>, and learn how our newsroom operates<\/a>.<\/p>\n Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber<\/a>.<\/p>\n Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.<\/p>\n \t\t
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