Manitobans are being asked for their input on the governance of regulated health professions as the next step in ongoing efforts to improve patient safety and ensure uniform regulation of all health service providers, Health Minister Theresa Oswald announced.
“Manitoba’s health professionals deliver first-class health care to citizens across our province and regulatory bodies do an excellent job protecting the public,” Oswald said. “In line with the direction other provinces have taken, we want to ensure Manitoba has consistent standards of regulation in all health professions to ensure we have the highest possible standards for patient safety across our health-care system.”
There are currently 22 health professions in Manitoba that are governed by 21 separate pieces of legislation.
The consultation process will explore measures that would:
• improve patient safety by regulating a broader scope of clinical procedures;
• ensure all regulatory bodies establish standards of practice, codes of ethics and competency standards to further strengthen patient safety;
• clarify and increase fairness in the complaints and disciplines process;
• allow health professions to continue to be self-regulating;
• provide consistent accountability between the regulatory bodies and the government; and
• establish a process to review requests for self-governing legislation.
“We want to hear directly from the public and health professionals how we can best ensure patients are receiving the very best care possible,” said the minister.
“The Manitoba Institute for Patient Safety (MIPS) encourages Manitobans to share their views on new measures to improve patient safety,” said Reg Toews, chair of MIPS. “Clear standards of practice across more health professions and a uniform, straightforward complaints process are consistent with the province’s work to continue to ensure Manitobans have access to safe, high-quality care.”
The health professions regulatory reform consultation document is being released to provide regulatory bodies, employers, professional associations, educational institutions and the public an opportunity to comment on the proposed ideas. It is available online, along with information on how to submit comments. Stakeholders are requested to provide input by Friday, Feb. 27.
