Manitobans will have better access to quality care as a result of a newly negotiated four-year agreement between the Manitoba government and the province’s doctors. This announcement was made by Health Minister Sharon Blady.
“This agreement will support improvements to primary care and continuity of service while keeping Manitoba competitive with other jurisdictions, helping us recruit more doctors as well as keeping more in the province,” Minister Blady said. “We know that health care is a top priority for Manitobans and we’re pleased to have reached an agreement with physicians to make sure Manitobans continue to receive the health services they need.”
The agreement was approved by the Doctors Manitoba board of directors and ratified by the members, who voted in a mail ballot. The new contract takes effect April 1 and increases the Manitoba government’s funding for medical services by approximately $95 million over four years.
Key components include:
- annual general rate increases of one per cent each year for physicians over the term of the contract;
- additional targeted increases to several priority areas, including services in rural and northern communities, as well as services provided by psychiatrists, geriatricians, palliative care physicians, paediatricians, pathologists and other specialties;
- requirements and special tariffs for primary care physicians, such as a new comprehensive care tariff for patients over the age of 50 and those who have been diagnosed with one or more chronic diseases;
- development of pilot models of emergency service delivery in identified communities in rural and northern Manitoba to address specific service delivery challenges;
- commitments from doctors to work with the Manitoba government, regional health authorities and other health system stakeholders to look at ways to enhance the sustainability of the health-care system through work to realize efficiencies of $50 million over four years;
- plans to look at ways to improve access to patient care across the province, which may include increasing access to telemedicine services; and
- commitments for fee-for-service physicians and regional health authorities to engage and better integrate fee-for-service practices in each region.
“This is a fair deal for both the physicians and citizens of Manitoba. It will help recruit and retain physicians for the province,” said Dr. Robert N. Kippen, president, Doctors Manitoba. “The deal strengthens the health system and supports ongoing access to medical care.”
The minister noted numbers from the College of Physicians and Surgeons last fall show there were an additional 83 physicians working in communities across the province, the largest net gain of doctors in a single year. This brings the total number of doctors to an all-time high of 2,682. The numbers show 2,055 physicians are practising in Winnipeg, with 627 in Brandon, rural and northern Manitoba.
The new agreement was developed in partnership with Manitoba Health, Healthy Living and Seniors, Doctors Manitoba, regional health authorities and other health system stakeholders.
