PROVINCE INVESTS MORE THAN $2.1 MILLION IN PHYSICIAN RECRUITMENT, RETENTION INITIATIVES

24AUG09 - Manitoba Health News Release

Innovative Recruitment Strategies See Results, Receive Additional Funding To Enhance Recruitment to Rural, Northern Manitoba: Oswald

DAUPHIN - The province is investing more than $2.1 million in Manitoba's innovative, multi-tiered strategy to recruit and retain physicians across Manitoba, especially in rural areas, Health Minister Theresa Oswald announced here today.

"We have worked with the regions to recruit more physicians to Manitoba communities and, since 1999, we have increased the number of physicians in Manitoba by more than 345," said Oswald. "Manitoba has a strong record of innovative physician recruitment and retention programs, resulting in a 19 per cent increase in practising physicians in rural Manitoba. These investments will help us continue to increase the number of doctors in the province, particularly in rural areas."

Read the complete news release here: http://news.gov.mb.ca/news/index.html?archive=&item=6539

TENTH STRAIGHT YEAR OF PHYSICIAN INCREASES IN MANITOBA

Check out the Manitoba News Release for August 17, 2009

http://news.gov.mb.ca/news/index.html?archive=today&item=6460

The minister notes that, this year, 49 students with a rural background will be part of the incoming class of 110 students at the University of Manitoba's faculty of medicine.

"It is wonderful to see the impact that the spectrum of programs initiated to improve physician numbers has had in Manitoba," said Dr. J. Dean Sandham, dean of medicine at the University of Manitoba. "In response to the need for rural physicians, a review of our application process for entry to medicine has expanded the value placed on rural backgrounds. We are very excited to increase the proportion of the incoming class of students with commitment to rural life and professional practice."