360 words / 1.5 min read / For all members

Earlier this week, the government delivered its Speech from the Throne, which sets out its agenda for the year ahead. Health care was up first, with the government showing it continues to be a priority. Doctors Manitoba was at the Legislature to react to the Speech and meet with key government officials. 

WHY IT MATTERS: With the health care system still understaffed and under-resourced, it is important to ensure it is still a priority for government. Much of the Speech reported progress on projects previously announced but there were a few new targeted investments too. 

Key commitments include:

• Opening new pathways for international medical graduates

• More hospital beds on the way, with plans to open 102 more next year, building on the 201 opened this year in Winnipeg, Selkirk, Brandon and Dauphin. 

• Selkirk will begin offering hip and knee surgery with 800 procedures funded at the hospital, while the mobile MRI in northern Manitoba will launch soon.

• A new ER wait time strategy will be unveiled, and consultations will begin on reopening ERs at Victoria and Eriksdale hospitals. The government also committed funding for renovations to the Children’s ER. 

• Continued efforts to recruit and retain doctors and other health care workers.

New plastic and digital health cards will be available for order starting in December featuring the northern lights theme. While this is a positive step, a plastic veneer doesn’t change the lack of connectivity between electronic record systems in health care and the continued reliance on fax machines, as illustrated in this video.

How we responded: Dr. Nichelle Desilets, President-Elect of Doctors Manitoba, was at the Legislature offering a physician’s reaction to the speech. ​“It’s positive to see health care is still recognized as a priority for the government, and that they recognize more work is needed to fix the system. It’s positive to see targeted investments, including in rural communities, but we are keen to see the broader plan to address the chronic shortage of physicians, nurses and other health care workers that is at the root of most of the challenges in the system today.”

You can read the full Speech here.