Health System Updates — August 12, 2026
In the News: Manitoba ERs Under Stress
As Manitoba’s physicians know all too well, ERs and urgent care centres across the province are experiencing tremendous operational stress, leading to extremely long wait times for patients and increasing moral distress for physicians.
📢 What we’re doing: Doctors Manitoba has been in the news publicly advocating for stronger supports and highlighting the impact this stress has on you, your colleagues, and the patients you care for.
- ‘They’re desperate to see someone’ — Winnipeggers hoping for shorter waits in rural ERs delay care for all, Selkirk nurse says (Free Press)
- CTV’s Maralee Caruso speaks with Dr. Alon Altman about a new report into burnout among Canadian physicians (CTV)
What’s next: We are also actively engaged with health system and government leaders raising your concerns. We are cautiously optimistic to see early action on a new pilot program to help stabilize physician coverage, but have not yet seen a formal update.
Supervised Consumption Site Opens in Winnipeg
Manitoba’s first supervised drug consumption site opened at 366 Henry Ave. on Tuesday in Winnipeg. The space can take up to 12 clients at a time. They will undergo an initial assessment, determining, among other things, which drugs they’re using.
Ransomware Attack at HSC
A ransomware attack on Winnipeg’s Health Sciences Centre has affected door access, heating, ventilation and air conditioning, CBC Manitoba reports. So far, Shared Health said in a statement, there is no indication that patients have been affected and increased security presence was brought in to hospital entrances to monitor doors.
Expanded Endoscopy Capacity
The Manitoba government is reporting progress on its efforts to expand endoscopy capacity. Since 2023 – 24, more than 50,000 endoscopies have been performed annually, the highest annual totals on record, according to a new announcement. As of July 2026, the number of patients on the wait list has fallen to 1,678 from a record wait-list backlog of 11,476 patients in July 2022 and median wait times have decreased significantly.
New Notice for Health Care Providers on Ebola
Ebola disease is unlikely to occur in Manitoba, but as noted in a new memo to health care providers, Public Health is monitoring a small number of quarantined travellers as the outbreak continues to expand in parts of Africa. Travellers under quarantine are advised not to seek in-person medical care, and to contact Public Health or Health Links – Info Santé if they develop symptoms or require non-Ebola related medical care.
Read the full memo from Manitoba Public Health here.
West Nile Virus – Mosquito Control Underway
Manitoba is in its highest-risk period for West Nile virus exposure (July 15 – Aug. 15), and a ministerial order has triggered adult mosquito spraying in Morden and Boissevain-Morton after surveillance found high Culex tarsalis counts and evidence of infection. No human cases have been confirmed in Manitoba so far in 2026.
See the August 6 bulletin here and the weekly West Nile Activity Surveillance updates here.
Amended Bulletin: Drug Formulary
Manitoba Health has issued amendments to this month’s Manitoba Drug Benefits and Manitoba Drug Interchangeability Formulary Amendments Bulletin, which now outlines changes to semaglutide interchangeability.
Clinical Practice Change: AST Testing for MRSA
Shared Health Clinical Microbiology laboratories have discontinued routine antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) for MRSA identified through surveillance isolates, effective August 4.
Read Shared Health’s memo to health care providers.
CPSM: Affairs of the College Bylaw
At its June meeting, CPSM Council updated its Code of Conduct for Council members and is presenting the following amendments intended to complement these improvements. These amendments impact only Council and Council committee members.
- The Bylaw has rules for when a councillor automatically ceases to hold office due to repeated absences. The proposed amendment would address repeated absences with graduated responses up to removal.
- The Bylaw is currently unclear about what happens to the status of a councillor in between charges being laid and a finding against them. The amendment would allow for a temporary suspension pending a final determination.
The detailed proposed amendments can be found at DRAFT Affairs of the College Bylaw amendment.pdf.
As always, we invite members to copy us (at practiceadvice@doctorsmanitoba.ca) with their submissions to the CPSM. Members can also send us their thoughts directly, and we will incorporate member views into a submission.
The deadline for submissions to CPSMconsultation@cpsm.mb.ca is August 27.
Doctors Manitoba Mentorship
Looking to give back to the next generation of physicians? Doctors Manitoba is recruiting mentors for the upcoming Medical Learner Mentorship Program. Residents and practicing physicians are encouraged to participate, with no previous mentoring experience required.
Why participate? You’ll help shape a future colleague while gaining access to mentorship events, leadership development opportunities, networking, and ongoing support from Doctors Manitoba.
Learn more and sign up here.
We’re Hiring!
Doctors Manitoba is currently recruiting for a Physician Health Services and Peer Support Coordinator and an Administrative Assistant.
If you know someone who is passionate about making a difference for physicians and helping build a healthier Manitoba, we’d love to hear from you.
Learn more and apply here.