Manitoba has attracted more doctors to the province over the past couple of years, but keeping them here is still an issue, a new report says.
In its annual physicians in Manitoba report released on Thursday, Doctors Manitoba says the province had a record-breaking net increase of 164 doctors last year.
It now has 225 physicians per 100,000 people, which is a 2.5 per cent improvement, but still far short of the national average of 241.
It would take 246 more physicians to reach the national average, and 697 more to become the best in Canada, the Doctors Manitoba report says.
The report draws on data from the Canadian Institute for Health Information and the province in order to understand trends, concerns and opportunities related to Manitoba‘s physician resources, Doctors Manitoba says in a news release.
In spite of the progress on recruitment, this year’s research reinforces the need to focus on retaining the doctors we have, Doctors Manitoba president Dr. Nichelle Desilets said in the release.
In 2024, Manitoba saw a net loss of 8.3 physicians per 1,000 people to other provinces — the second-worst performance of all provinces, according to data from CIHI.
Doctors Manitoba also did a survey of its members, and 1,318 fully licensed physicians (38 per cent) responded.
Among those who responded to the Doctors Manitoba survey:
- 43 per cent were considering reducing their hours, retiring or leaving the province in the next three years.
- 21 per cent were considering retiring or leaving Manitoba in the next three years.
- 56 per cent were experiencing distress and 48 per cent were experiencing high rates of burnout.
Over the past five years, Manitoba has lost an average of 155 doctors annually through departures or retirement, a rate of four to five per cent, Doctors Manitoba said, citing Manitoba College of Physicians and Surgeons reports.
That’s a drastic difference from the percentage who said in the Doctors Manitoba survey that they were thinking about it over the next three years, the advocacy organization said.
In addition, among the students and residents who responded to the survey, only 60 per cent planned to stay in Manitoba, while the other 40 per cent planned to leave or were undecided.
The number of Manitoba graduates starting practice in the province has declined from a record high of 87 in 2021 to 70 last year, the Doctors Manitoba report said.
The recruitment success in the last few years has primarily been driven by out-of-province graduates moving to Manitoba, Doctors Manitoba said.
Frustration over issues in Manitoba’s health-care system, such as excessive administrative burden, siloed electronic record systems and a lack of access to equipment and facilities, have been cited by doctors as key drivers of burnout and distress and the major reasons some plan to leave, Desilets said.
Doctors Manitoba is urging the province to improve the environments where physicians work and learn.
That involves enhancing consultation and engagement, streamlining the computer operating systems between referring physicians and specialists, eliminating sick notes and other unnecessary administrative burdens, expanding team-based care and investing in the facilities and equipment physicians need to care for patients, the advocacy organization said.
Doctors Manitoba will speak to media on Thursday afternoon about the report.
