Doctors have ratified a new four-year agreement with the Manitoba government that will help recruit and retain more physicians in communities across the province and support the government's plan to ensure all Manitobans have access to a family doctor by 2015, Premier Greg Selinger announced on October 7.
"Health care remains the top priority of our government because we know that it is still the top priority for Manitoba families," said Selinger. "We are pleased doctors have ratified this new agreement which will help to recruit and retain more doctors in our province while supporting our plan to ensure all Manitobans have a family doctor by 2015."
The new contract is retroactive to April 1, 2011, and increases the province's funding for medical services by approximately $125 million over four years, he said, noting key components include:
- a 66 per cent increase to the Physician Retention Fund designed to retain doctors currently practising in Manitoba;
- new fee tariffs including those for chronic disease management, which will enable doctors to spend more time with patients who need it most;
- a requirement for newly recruited physicians to participate in the Family Doctor Connection Program, as part of the province's commitment to help Manitobans find a family doctor;
- a commitment to work together on provincial priorities such as implementing primary-care homes and networks, a key component of ensuring all Manitobans have a family doctor by 2015;
- competitive general rate increases of 10.6 per cent for physicians over the term of the contract, with a long-term commitment to ensure remuneration for Manitoba doctors remains competitive; and
- remuneration incentives to recruit and retain physicians in critical areas of practice including intensive-care specialists, pathologists, diagnostic specialists, physicians working in remote locations, physicians working with the provincial Lifeflight air ambulance program and other specialties.
The new master agreement was approved by the Doctors Manitoba board of directors and ratified by the members who voted in a mail ballot.
"The key to recruiting and retaining physicians in Manitoba is to ensure that the compensation is competitive with the average paid in Ontario, Saskatchewan and Alberta," said Dr. Jason Scott, president of Doctors Manitoba. "This new agreement will help ensure this occurs in this agreement and into the future."
"The new agreement with Doctors Manitoba gives doctors the support they need to offer improved care for families across our province including spending more time with patients who have chronic health conditions," said Health Minister Theresa Oswald. "The contract also includes important provisions that will help to recruit and retain more doctors in Manitoba, which will further improve patient access to the health services they need."
Last year, Manitoba saw a net increase of 87 more doctors practising in Manitoba, a record increase. Since 1999, the province has seen a net gain of nearly 500 more doctors practising across the province, Oswald said.
The minister noted the terms of this new agreement will ensure compensation paid to physicians is competitive with neighbouring jurisdictions in a fiscally responsible manner consistent with Manitoba's five-year plan for economic recovery.
The new agreement was developed in partnership with Manitoba Health, Doctors Manitoba, regional health authorities and other stakeholders.
The previous agreement between the Province of Manitoba and Doctors Manitoba was a three-year contract worth approximately $100 million, signed in September 2008.