There are 57 more doctors working in Manitoba this year, according to statistics from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba, Health Minister Theresa Oswald said.
“This is the 10th straight year we’ve seen an increase in the number of doctors working in the province,” said Oswald. “We continue to work with our partners to ensure even more doctors choose to practise and live in Manitoba.”
A total of 2,382 doctors are now practising in the province, a net increase of 324 doctors since 2000. According to the college, the 2009 net gain of 57 doctors is the largest in a single year. The second-largest net increase was recorded in 2007 when Manitoba gained 54 doctors in one year.
“The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba is very pleased at the increase in the number of licensed medical practitioners in Manitoba over the past 10 years. We congratulate Manitoba Health and Healthy Living and the minister for the support provided on many levels to increase the number of trained physicians to serve the people of our province,” said Dr. Bill Pope, registrar and chief executive officer of the college. “We are particularly pleased with the close working relationship that exists between the college, the faculty of medicine at the University of Manitoba and the Physician Resource Co-ordination Office. The result is better health care for Manitobans.”
Oswald said since 1999, the province has made significant investments in physician recruitment and retention including:
• Expanding medical school spaces at the University of Manitoba to 110 from 70.
• Introducing a tax rebate program to reimburse students for up to 60 per cent of their tuition costs.
• Creating the Physician Resource Co-ordination Office in 2005 to support a balanced, effective and efficient physician-recruitment strategy in Manitoba that recognizes the needs of the province as well as the needs of individual regional health authorities.
• Introducing the Medical Licensure Program for International Medical Graduates in 2001 to assist foreign doctors in receiving conditional registration. The program started with 10 spaces in 2006. The province increased spaces to 25 and is working towards expanding the number of seats to 35.
• Implementing the Medical Student/Resident Financial Assistance Program in May 2001, which provides grants to students who then agree to return one year of service in Manitoba for each grant they receive. These grants are available to all qualifying medicine students and residents including family physicians.
The minister also noted that, this year, 49 students with a rural background will be part of the incoming class of 110 students at the University of Manitoba’s faculty of medicine.
“It is wonderful to see the impact that the spectrum of programs initiated to improve physician numbers has had in Manitoba,” said Dr. J. Dean Sandham, dean of medicine at the University of Manitoba. “In response to the need for rural physicians, a review of our application process for entry to medicine has expanded the value placed on rural backgrounds. We are very excited to increase the proportion of the incoming class of students with commitment to rural life and professional practice.”
Sandham also noted the new Remote and Northern Residency Program is designed specifically to add to physician resources in those areas. Ten students enrolled in this new residency program this year. It is predicted that by 2012 this program will have 37 more physicians working in remote and northern regions.
“Our province has skilled and caring physicians who work hard to provide quality care for people around the province,” said Oswald. “Every Manitoban appreciates their efforts to keep us safe and healthy, and we know this will continue in the years ahead.”
