Manitoba is making historic investments to heal healthcare with two main streams

We are taking action to strengthen our health system now and for our future, learn more about each of these critical initiatives below.

Health Human Resource Action Plan

RETAIN. TRAIN. RECRUIT.
 

In November 2022, the Manitoba government launched a $200 million Health Human Resource Action Plan to invest in distinct programs and approaches to better support nurses, doctors, allied health professionals and support staff across the province.

The action plan incorporates more than 30 comprehensive initiatives — many of which are underway. Our Health Human Resource Action Plan focuses on three core pillars:

• RETAIN — supporting wellness, incentivization, administration and benefits programs to keep our valued healthcare providers working in Manitoba
• TRAIN — supporting development and expansion of education programs that will ensure more healthcare providers are being trained to support long-term capacity building, and
• RECRUIT — supporting campaigns to attract healthcare providers to Manitoba and reducing barriers to joining our healthcare workforce

Diagnostic and Surgical Recovery Task Force

To help address the unprecedented stress on healthcare systems caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, in December 2021, the Manitoba government established the Diagnostic and Surgical Recovery Task Force (DSRTF) – a team of highly-respected local healthcare professionals supported by subject matter experts from across Canada. The DSRTF identifies and implements short and long-term solutions to reduce surgical and diagnostic waitlists, shorten wait times for patients and build capacity for long-term health-care system resilience.

To date, the Manitoba government has committed $240 million to support initiatives implemented through the task force, which have resulted in: 

• a total of 72,391​ more diagnostic and surgery procedures completed, and
• an overall 42% reduction in COVID-19 backlogs.

The DSRTF has reduced backlogs for 35 of 36 surgical or diagnostic procedures that it is currently working on. This includes:

• completely eliminating the backlog for 17 procedures, and
• reducing the backlog by 50% or more for another 5 procedures.