After several years of advocacy and work, Manitoba is finally starting to see its record physician shortage improve. New data shows that last year marked the largest-ever net gain of 133 physicians, leading the nation with a 2% increase in physicians per capita. This means that after years of deteriorating to a record high, the physician shortage in Manitoba is shrinking. 

WHY IT MATTERS: Manitoba’s doctor shortage reached a record high last year, with 445 more doctors required to reach the national average for physicians per capita. This impacts patient care, including over 150,000 Manitobans without a family doctor and unreasonably long wait times for emergency and specialty care, testing and surgery. Seeing the shortage improve is a turning point in the province, though Manitoba still ranks second worst in the country on physicians per capita.

“One of physicians’ top concerns has been the doctor shortage, because it leads to longer wait times for patients and that causes physicians distress and burnout,” said Dr. Randy Guzman, President of Doctors Manitoba. ​“Some of physicians’ recommendations have been implemented, and we’re finally seeing improvements in doctor recruitment and retention, though this initial progress must be sustained with continued investments and relentless attention.”

📈POSITIVE TRENDS: Doctors Manitoba analyzed new reports from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba and the Canadian Institute for Health Information and found:

• A net gain of 133 more doctors last year, a record-breaking increase that eclipses the previous high of 83.
• A 2% improvement in the number of physicians per capita, the largest increase of all provinces.
• Manitoba has a shortage of 346 doctors, a major shortage but a significant improvement from the record shortage of 445 doctors last year. 

📉CONCERNING RISKS: While Manitoba appears to be turning the corner, the analysis finds that Manitoba still has significant risks: 

• Manitoba still ranks second last on physicians per capita in Canada, with 219 physicians per 100,000 residents. Manitoba’s ranked 4^th best about two decades ago, but the rank among provinces has steadily declined since then. 
• For specialists Manitoba ranks third last, and for family physicians Manitoba is in last place. All these rankings are unchanged from last year.
• 688 doctors — 20% of all physicians — are considering retiring or moving away in the next three years. 

WHAT’S NEXT: Each year, an average of 227 doctors start practicing in Manitoba, while 156 are lost to other jurisdictions or retirement. This demonstrates the need to do better on both recruiting more doctors and retaining the ones we have. Dr. Guzman encourages a comprehensive focus to solve the shortage. ​“Leaving retention unaddressed risks undermining the improvements we have made in recruitment.”

Doctors Manitoba recognizes significant progress in a number of areas, including expanding medical training, reducing burnout, and signing an historic new funding agreement for doctors last year. However, several recommendations still need attention, including expanding team-based care in physician practices, supporting physicians in Manitoba with their recruitment efforts, and focusing on recruitment and retention for smaller specialty groups and communities struggling with chronic shortages. 

GO DEEPER: Review the full analysis of new data in the latest annual report from Doctors Manitoba, Physicians in Manitoba (2024).

➡️ Read the report

BY THE NUMBERS FOR MANITOBA: 

• 3,334 physicians, a net increase of 133.
• 219 physicians per 100,000 residents, up 2% from 215 last year but still 2^nd lowest in Canada 
• Total shortage of 346 physicians to get to the national average of 243 per 100,000 residents.
• Manitoba has fewer physicians per capita than all 29 developed nations tracked by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.