The Manitoba government aims to hire 100 new doctors in the province this year, Premier Wab Kinew says.
The move is part of a $310-million plan to hire 1,000 health-care workers in Manitoba over the next year, as was announced last week in the province’s 2024-25 budget.
“This is an ambitious target. This would be the most net new physicians in a year that our province has ever seen,” Kinew said at a Thursday news conference. “But … we’re an ambitious bunch.”
‘Help is coming’
Forty-four doctors were added to Manitoba’s health-care system last year, Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara told reporters.
“Today, we’re offering Manitobans a united front, a system-wide commitment from all partners to set ambitious goals and to achieve those goals,” Asagwara said. “Together, we will work to make sure Manitobans can always find a family doctor, see a specialist and get emergency care where and when they need it.”
However, Kinew says, the first step toward adding more health-care workers to the system means retaining current staff.
“Help is coming. We’re bringing the resources to support you … new approaches and renewed focus on the culture,” he said.
Toward that end, a new health-care retention and recruitment office has been established, Kinew said in an earlier news release.