Manitoba needs to 'Trump-proof' its health-care system amid tariff threats, doctors' advocacy group says

A physicians' advocacy group says Manitoba needs to make sure the premier's calls to "Trump-proof" the economy extend to the health-care system.

Doctors should buy locally sourced supplies and equipment wherever possible, said Dr. Randy Guzman, president of Doctors Manitoba.

The organization is changing its own procurement practices.

"We've been very encouraged by Premier Wab Kinew's forward-thinking actions and what he calls 'Trump-proofing' Manitoba," Guzman, who's a vascular surgeon at St. Boniface Hospital in Winnipeg, said at a virtual news conference Thursday.

"Today, Doctors Manitoba is offering advice to expand this 'Trump-proof' strategy to include our health-care system."

U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday he will end a month-long pause and slap a 25 per cent tariff on most Canadian goods as of March 4.

Earlier this month, Premier Wab Kinew said Canada needs to "Trump-proof" its economy in response to the president's threats, including by searching for more diverse export markets, and that productivity investments in Manitoba need to move forward.

Guzman said helping doctors get information about the source of the equipment and supplies they buy is part of what's needed.

Doctors Manitoba has also asked its members to help identify any items that are needed specifically from the U.S., because they could become vulnerable to supply disruptions or price increases.

"We're not quite where the grocery chains are at in identifying what is supplied and what is at risk, but we need to get there, and we're asking our members and our suppliers," he said.

Anything from dressings to stents could be among the items affected.

"Let's say we have a stent graft that is 25 per cent more. Well, we still are dealing with a budget," Guzman said.

"How does that work? It's not an unlimited budget.… And if you times that by many, you know, hundreds or thousands of items, then it becomes a very big deal."

Spokesperson Keir Johnson said the items identified so far as U.S.-based products that doctors in Manitoba rely on are wide-ranging, from vaccines and drugs to IV fluids and medicine pumps to computers, bedsheets and gowns.

Doctors Manitoba is also concerned about the Canadian government's list of U.S. products that would be subject to tariffs from this side of the border.

While it doesn't appear to include specific medical supplies, there are a number of items commonly used in medical settings, like soap and prescription pads — and Johnson said he hopes avoiding impacts to the health-care system is considered in any tariff retaliation.

"We just want to make sure that we're thoughtful in the response, that we're not inadvertently jacking up costs in health care with a regulatory response, that we're monitoring supply chains closely if there's any disruptions, and that we're finding a way to promote and buy local in health care," Johnson said at the virtual news conference.

The organization also hopes to see continuing increases to health-care funding alongside any economic responses to tariffs and their impacts.

"There's now a potential crisis over here that might require massive government investment to support business, to support workers … if tariffs were to go ahead, but that can't come at the expense of health care," he said.

"It can't be a 'this or that' situation — it needs to be both."