February 26, 2026
Manitoba Leads in Access to Family Medicine
A new OurCare national study suggests 89% of Manitobans are connected to a family doctor or primary care provider, the highest rate in Canada, and a supports a similar result shown in other recent research from CIHI and Angus Reid.
Manitoba also leads on a number of key indicators of strong primary care:
- 90% of Manitobans indicate they generally see their family physician or primary care provider and not someone else, an important marker of continuity of care, higher than the national average of 87%.
- 67% say clinic staff reflect the surrounding community’s diversity, the third highest in Canada, and 70% say their clinic understands and respects their cultural background.
- 70% are satisfied with how their family physician supports their general well-being, higher than the national average of 67%.
Yes, but… Just 32% said a nurse was available in their clinic, the 3rd lowest of any province.
- This is an important marker of team-based care, an area on which Manitoba continues to lag behind other provinces.
- We have urged the government to include funding to expand team-based care in physician practices as part of their 2026 budget, expected next month.
The OurCare report highlights other areas that need improvement in Manitoba too:
- Just 24% of patients say they can access their health records online, the worst rate in Canada and significantly below the national average of 65%. Manitoba also scored worst on a similar survey by CIHI.
- Access is a challenge, with only 29% able to access same/next day appointments and 26% able to access after hours care. While other surveys have shown Manitoba is a leader in this area, it is clear this is a challenge we need to focus on as we recruit more family physicians to address our long-standing shortage.
OurCare is a nationwide research initiative funded in part by the Canadian Medical Association, seeking to understand gaps in Canadians’ access to primary care, determine where there is room for improvement, and provide a framework for how to get there.