Legislative Electronic Publications -- Government Expands Strategy To Recruit And Retain Physicians

Manitoba Government News Release:
Information Services, Room 29, Legislative Building, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C 0V8 Telephone: (204)
945-3746 Fax: (204) 945-3988

November 08, 2005

GOVERNMENT EXPANDS STRATEGY TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN PHYSICIANS
- - -
New Resource Office and Website, More Medical School Spaces, More Doctors: Sale

New initiatives to help regional health authorities (RHAs) recruit more physicians were announced today by Health Minister Tim Sale.

"Regional health authorities throughout the province have done excellent work in developing a variety of physician recruitment strategies," said Sale. "Today’s announcement reflects a commitment by the Manitoba government to further assist RHAs in their drive to attract and retain physicians."

Sale outlined three new initiatives that will augment the province’s physician recruitment strategy:

a new Physician Resource Co-ordination Office to assist RHA recruitment;
a new one-stop-shop website to assist health authorities recruit and retain doctors at http://www.healthemployment.ca; and
aggressive recruitment of family doctors and help for RHAs in targeting key specialty areas such as orthopedics, anesthesiologists and physician extenders such as registered clinical assistants (RCAs).

In addition, Manitoba has added eight more medical student spaces in 2005 and will be adding seven more in 2006 for a total of 100 spaces by the end of 2006. The government will also be adding places for enhanced training for International Medical Graduates to 15 seats in 2005 and will increase the number to 25 in 2006.

"Since 1998, we have increased the number of doctors in training by over 20 per cent and we have seen results with more than 200 more doctors practicing in Manitoba," said Sale. "More physicians are a key to providing better care sooner."

Expanding the number of doctors and other health professionals is an important part of Manitoba’s recently announced $155-million wait-list reduction strategy, said Sale.

Out of the money for this strategy, the province will spend $4.5 million over four years to assist RHAs recruit additional orthopedic surgeons, anesthesiologists and RCAs. Manitoba currently has 13 RCAs and is the only province that utilizes them.

In addition, Manitoba will spend up to $2.1 million annually on programs designed to assist foreign doctors to obtain licenses in Manitoba over the next four years.

The Physician Resource Co-ordination Office is designed to help the RHAs speed up the recruitment and licensing process by showcasing opportunities throughout Manitoba. Dedicated staff will assist Canadian medical graduates and foreign doctors in all aspects of becoming a Manitoba health professional.

Sale also announced today more aggressive recruitment techniques including the new physician careers and recruitment website that provides a highly-visible, comprehensive one-stop-shop website.

Physicians interested in working in Manitoba will have access to information ranging from job opportunities and licensure requirements, to lifestyle and leisure attractions throughout the province.

These initiatives expand on the government’s provincial recruitment strategy that includes:

expanded enrolment at the University of Manitoba medical school and an expanded licensing program for international medical graduates,
new $50,000 grants for family doctors to return to school for a third year in priority areas such as emergency medicine and anesthesiology, and
new grants to Canadian medical school graduates - five yearly grants of $15,000 for each year of full-time work in urban Manitoba and five grants of $25,000 for each year of full-time work in rural Manitoba.

- 30 -

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

PHYSICIANS IN MANITOBA

Since 1999, more than 355 medical students have received financial support in return for committing to practice in Manitoba including 47 in rural Manitoba.
Since 1999, over 150 specialists have been recruited through the Specialist Recruitment and Retention Fund.
There are currently 24 anesthesiologist residents in training in Manitoba and 17 anesthesia students have received grants in return for promising to practice in Manitoba.
Since 1999, six more cardiologists have been recruited in Winnipeg and another four are committed to start in 2006-07.
By 2006, the number of spaces in the University of Manitoba Medical School will have increased by 43 per cent.

RETURN