Health System Updates — April 16, 2026
Province Considers Cardiac Centre Legislation
As noted in our Budget 2026 analysis, Manitoba has earmarked funding to re-establish a new cardiac centre of excellence at St. Boniface Hospital in Winnipeg.
The $22.1 million project for Heart Care Manitoba includes:
- A new rapid cardiac assessment unit set to open in early July
- Funding for 19 in-patient beds for cardiac care, including five re-assessed and 14 new
- A centralized access office
What’s new: Provincial leaders announced Friday they are also considering legislative protections for the centre, so that investments in the program would continue regardless of provincial leadership in office.
Drop in Suspected Substance-Related Deaths
The number of suspected substance-related deaths in Manitoba fell in 2025 from the year prior.
Why it matters: The data is a signal for cautious optimism among addictions experts, indicating work to improve access to naloxone and harm reduction education within Manitoba appears to be making a positive difference.
➡️ Yes, but️ “Even though we’ve seen a decline, it is still essentially somebody losing their life in Manitoba every day to a preventable cause,” Winnipeg addictions medicine leader Dr. Erin Knight told CBC News. “I don’t want to lose the urgency for us to continue to work towards lessening the loss of life that’s unnecessary.”
Preliminary provincial data shows a total of 354 suspected substance-related deaths from January to November 2025, down from 530 in the same period for 2024.
Premier and PM Discuss Manitoba Health Projects
At a meeting this week about infrastructure priorities, Premier Wab Kinew spoke with Prime Minister Mark Carney about federal funding for the new Victoria Hospital emergency room and Cancer Care headquarters in Winnipeg. Health care capital projects can qualify for new federal infrastructure funding, though we would hope federal funding would be targeted toward new projects, not on underwriting projects the provincial government is already pursuing.
Measles Watch
Manitoba’s measles case count is nearly at 500 confirmed and probable, with the latest exposure sites at following places:
- East Selkirk Middle School, Selkirk, April 9
- Boundary Trails Health Centre ER, near Winkler, April 9
- WELL Health Medical (inside Superstore), Winnipeg, April 10
- Portage District General Hospital ER, Portage la Prairie, April 13
Talking to patients about vaccines: Please visit our Doctors Manitoba Measles Updates page for physician-curated resources, including tips for talking to patients about making the decision to get vaccinated and how to access their records if they are not sure.
Read the latest Measles Bulletin.
Are You Relocating, Retiring or Closing Your Medical Practice?
Spring is a time of transition, not just as the snow melts, but for many physicians opening a new chapter in their personal and professional lives, and a great opportunity to ensure you’re organized for what’s ahead.
What to do: Closing or relocating a medical practice carries the risk of interrupting patient care. Physicians are expected to make reasonable arrangements to ensure continuity of care, except in exceptional circumstances.
As CPSM notes, three main areas need to be considered and addressed, as applicable, when closing or relocating a medical practice.
- Communication and Notice
- Arrangements for Continuity of Care
- Practice Environment Considerations
Doctors Manitoba is here to help. View our Resource Guide on Retirement and Practice Closure or email us at practiceadvice@doctorsmanitoba.ca if you have questions.
Turning Points: Writing Through Transitions in Medicine
Transitions are constant in medicine — and how physicians process them can shape identity and well-being. Join us May 14 for a virtual workshop on navigating change and professional transitions through the powerful tool of writing.
- A practical framework for understanding transitions
- Guided discussions of published physician narratives
- Structured reflective writing exercises