News from the Government of Manitoba

More than 200,000 Manitobans have applied for the province’s new plastic health card, which replaces the traditional paper version known for wear and tear. Featuring an image of the northern lights, the new cards began distribution after applications opened on Jan. 15, with delivery expected in the coming days. While not mandatory, plastic cards will automatically be issued for new applicants or as replacements for lost or expired cards, and a digital version is expected later this year.

The Rural Interest Group (RIG) program in Manitoba connects first- and second-year medical students with rural healthcare settings, providing hands-on experience alongside doctors, nurses, and EMS staff. Organized by Prairie Mountain Health, the program aims to build relationships between students and rural communities, encouraging future physicians to stay and practice in Manitoba. With events like rural week and medical retreats, the initiative fosters long-term engagement, increasing the likelihood that students will choose rural medicine as their career path.

Gambler First Nation has partnered with Brazilian-trained physician Igor Schinkarew to open a new on-reserve clinic, improving healthcare access for the community. Schinkarew, who will complete his final physician training in Canada while working in Gambler, will initially serve as a clinical assistant before becoming fully licensed. The clinic, set to open in March, will provide much-needed medical care to residents, particularly for chronic conditions like diabetes, and may expand to serve neighboring communities in the future.

Manitoba's healthcare system continues to struggle with recruitment and retention challenges, particularly among allied health workers who remain without a new contract. High vacancy rates across professions like paramedics, diagnostic technologists, and therapists are contributing to increased workloads, burnout, and longer wait times for essential services such as MRIs and CT scans. While healthcare expenditures are rising, they remain below the national average, and further investments are necessary to staff up the public system, reduce reliance on private agencies, and prevent further loss of critical healthcare workers.

The Manitoba government is increasing hip and knee surgery capacity at Selkirk Regional Health Centre by 800 annually, reducing wait times and providing care closer to home for Interlake residents. This investment, alongside added beds, transitional care, and  future urgent care plans, reflects the province's commitment to enhancing healthcare access and retention of medical specialists.

A longtime emergency room nurse at Winnipeg's Health Sciences Centre describes daily chaos, understaffing, and long patient wait times, calling the situation "morally grating." She says the ER is overwhelmed with patients, including those seeking shelter, and faces ongoing shortages of staff and hospital beds. Despite government efforts to hire more health-care workers and expand resources, the nurse urges decision-makers to witness the conditions firsthand and take further action to improve patient care and working conditions.

The Government of Canada is investing $1.57 million in three Manitoba pilot projects under the Age Well at Home initiative to help seniors age safely in their homes. These projects, led by the North Point Douglas Seniors Association, Manitoba Métis Federation, and Living Independence for Elders Inc., focus on providing practical supports such as friendly visits, grocery deliveries, and wellness checks for vulnerable seniors. This funding is part of a broader $40 million national effort to mobilize volunteers and expand services for seniors, ensuring they receive essential care and support in their communities.

The Manitoba government has opened a new minor injury and illness clinic at Misericordia Health Centre in downtown Winnipeg, providing timely primary care to local families. Staffed by physicians, nurses, and primary care assistants, the clinic offers diagnostic imaging and lab services, aiming to treat patients in a single visit. Initially open on weekdays from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. and weekends from 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., the clinic is part of the province’s efforts to expand access to primary care, complementing a similar facility in Brandon.

Wage increases, staffing levels drive up health costs, Manitoba report says
Recent audits of Manitoba's health authorities found that wage increases, rising drug and supply costs, and private-agency nurse reliance have significantly contributed to health-care deficits. The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority and Shared Health CEOs were replaced as the government committed to stronger financial accountability, including zero-based budgeting and stricter cost-control measures. While the NDP blames the previous government for mismanagement, opposition parties and unions warn that budget cuts without increased investment in staffing and services could further strain the health-care system.

The Manitoba government has surpassed its commitment to hire 1,000 net-new health-care workers, adding 1,255 professionals to the system by December 2024. This includes physicians, nurses, health-care aides, and allied health workers, contributing to improvements such as a 45 percent reduction in mandatory nurse overtime within the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority. The province has also prioritized worker safety by funding 126 institutional safety officer positions and partnering with Long Plain First Nation to enhance security at Portage District General Hospital.

The Manitoba government is investing $72 million to add 90 private beds to Park Manor Personal Care Home in Winnipeg’s Transcona neighborhood, addressing the need for more senior care. Premier Wab Kinew and Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara emphasized that this expansion will improve long-term care capacity and ensure seniors receive dignified care. The project is part of a broader provincial effort to enhance senior services, including new care home developments and increased home-care support.

The Manitoba government released financial audits of health authorities from 2019-2024, exposing governance failures, poor communication, and declining patient care. Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara emphasized the need to shift health-care culture by redirecting resources to frontline care and addressing systemic mismanagement. The government plans to curb private nursing agency contracts, invest $1 billion into public health care, and increase staffing to restore accountability and improve patient outcomes.

The CEOs of Shared Health and the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority (WRHA) have been replaced after financial audits revealed systemic failures and fiscal mismanagement in Manitoba’s health system. Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara cited a disconnect between government directives to improve health-care culture and decisions made by system leaders, leading to poor morale and misallocation of resources. Chris Christadoulou will serve as interim CEO of Shared Health, while Jane Curtis takes over at WRHA, as the province moves to address governance and financial accountability.

International students in Manitoba are questioning whether the provincial government will fulfill its 2023 election promise to restore their health-care coverage, which was cut by the previous government in 2018. Students say the current mandatory insurance is costly and inadequate, forcing many to pay upfront for care or skip treatment altogether. While the NDP government says it is reviewing options, critics argue the lack of action suggests the promise was made without a concrete implementation plan.

The Manitoba government has directed Prairie Mountain Health to reduce for-profit nursing agency spending by 15% by March 2026, aiming to reinvest in the public system. Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara criticized the previous government’s reliance on private agencies, leading to excessive spending and staffing shortages in public health care. The province has also closed a request for proposals to streamline private agency contracts and ensure more funding goes directly to public-sector nurses and patient care.