Doctors Manitoba has reviewed the health workforce update released today by the provincial government, showing a gain of 116 more physicians between April 1 and August 31, 2024. 

“Seeing a net increase in physicians this year is a step in the right direction towards addressing our doctor shortage and getting patients better care,” said Dr. Randy Guzman, President of Doctors Manitoba. 

The analysis cautioned that partial year reporting does not capture the cyclical ebbs and flows seen over a full year with physician licensure, with graduating residents obtaining their full license early in the summer and existing physicians leaving practice seeing their licenses expire later the fall. While it’s possible the number may shrink after that cycle is complete, the Doctors Manitoba analysis is confident the trend will continue to show growth in the number of doctors practicing in Manitoba. 

Doctors Manitoba has provided several recommendations on addressing Manitoba’s record shortage of physicians, including a focus on both recruitment and retention. A report released by Doctors Manitoba in June found that 46% of existing physicians are considering relocating outside of Manitoba, retiring, or reducing their clinical hours over the next three years. In other words, the analysis showed Manitoba is at risk of losing 688 physicians, or 21% of the workforce. A focus on retention is an important component of the overall plan to expand the number of doctors in Manitoba. 

Dr. Guzman reinforced the importance of a comprehensive plan. ​“We hope to see the government and health system leaders build on this progress with more concrete steps to retain the physicians we have and recruit more too, by focusing on building a culture and work environment that supports physicians with delivering the exceptional care each and every Manitoban deserves.”

The most recent national analysis from the Canadian Institute for Health Information, released last fall, shows Manitoba would need 445 more physicians to reach the national average of physicians per capita. The next national update is expected on October 10, 2024.