Doctors Manitoba unveils 'prescription' for health care, calls on political parties to adopt recommendations

A physicians' advocacy organization has a vision to fix health care in the province that it hopes political parties will adopt ahead of this fall's election.

In a new report released Thursday titled Prescription for Health Care, Doctors Manitoba outlines a seven-point plan that includes proposals to reduce wait times, recruit more physicians and health-care providers, and expand mental health and addictions treatment, among other things. 

The plan was shared with all of Manitoba's political parties in advance. The hope is that they will adopt some, if not all, of the recommendations in their campaign platforms, said Doctors Manitoba president Dr. Michael Boroditsky at a news conference Thursday. 

"It's to drive conversation and to push forward what we think would be a better way to improve our health-care system."

The report summarizes and expands on some proposals Doctors Manitoba has made before, including adding at least 400 doctors in the province to address shortages. 

Doctors Manitoba thinks that in addition to recruiting from overseas, the province should be looking to the United States, Boroditsky said, adding that in the last 10 years only about 16 physicians who graduated from medical school in the U.S. have come to work in Manitoba. 

"The U.S. does look like a relatively untapped market," he said.

"I think the sheer numbers and the familiarity of our neighbours down south does make them an attractive recruiting spot."

The organization's plan also calls for the addition of 250 more health-care professionals, such as nurse practitioners and physician assistants, to support a "team based" approach to primary care and address burnout among family doctors.

This would not only help address burnout among family doctors, but give patients access to more comprehensive care by involving providers with different specialities, such as psychologists or dieticians the report says. 

Other recommendations in the report include: 

• The addition of 150 more psychiatrists, psychologists and other mental health professionals over the next four years.
• Adopting a target occupancy rate for hospitals that includes surge capacity. 
• Increasing uptake of screening and immunizations.
• Creating a $10-million innovation fund to support research and development in medicine.

The report is based on several months of research and consultation with physicians, Doctors Manitoba said in a news release. 

NDP, Liberals say proposals fit with their promises

Manitoba NDP Leader Wab Kinew said he thinks the recommendations align well with the NDP's plan for health care, particularly the focus on primary care teams. 

"[It's] something that we know experts are calling for, but also meets the needs of Manitobans," said Kinew.

He believes the target of recruiting 400 new doctors could be reached in the next five years, partially through an NDP promise to expand the University of Manitoba's medical school that was announced last month. 

At the time of the announcement, Kinew wouldn't estimate how many additional students would be trained to be doctors or nurse practitioners, saying his party would consult with stakeholders on what's needed.

Manitoba Liberal Leader Dougald Lamont also said the recommendations from Doctors Manitoba closely align with his party's vision for health care in the province. 

"To really change health care for the better in Manitoba, we need a revolution in prevention," Lamont said in an emailed statement, adding that's why the Liberals are also committed to expanding team-based care if elected this fall. 

Part of that plan includes top-up pay for health-care providers who work in teams as well as those working in rural or remote regions, he said. 

In terms of increasing physician numbers, Lamont said the party is committed to adding more spaces at the U of M across a range of medical areas, and creating a new Brandon campus of the U of M medical school dedicated to rural and northern medicine.

Progressive Conservative Leader Heather Stefanson thanked Doctors Manitoba for their recommendations, saying in an emailed statement that her party will continue building a strong relationship with the organization if re-elected and is "committed to healing health care."

"We know health care didn't break overnight, and we know it won't get fixed overnight — but we are on the road to recovery," she said, adding that the party will release more details about its health-care plan further into the campaign.