Manitoba recruits US doctors and one recruit cites US political climate

Manitoba has welcomed 13 US-trained doctors since May after creating a recruitment and retention office; one recent recruit from Michigan cited political interference in US health care and Canada's publicly funded system as factors.

Thirteen US-trained doctors have arrived in Manitoba since May as part of a provincial recruitment effort that aims to ease wait times and bolster primary care. The increase followed the establishment last spring of a dedicated recruitment and retention office. Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara said the number is well above recent years. The provincial government has also opened more clinics for minor illnesses and primary care while wait times remain high. Key facts: - Thirteen US-trained doctors arrived in Manitoba since May, according to Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara. - The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba recorded three or fewer American doctors recruited in each of the past six years before this increase. - Asagwara said doctors cited fewer insurance barriers, less administrative overhead, and more time with patients as reasons for choosing Manitoba. - Dr. Jesse Krikorian, a family physician who moved from Michigan, said he saw government interference in US health care and focuses on underserved populations, including LGBTQ+ patients. - The article notes Canada’s publicly funded system as an attraction and that some US patients delayed follow-up care because of cost. - The 13 US doctors are in addition to 285 doctors from Canada and other countries recruited since the 2023 provincial election, and the government said it is in talks with dozens more US doctors. Summary: The reported arrivals add to recruitment gains the province links to a new retention office, but health officials say reducing hospital and urgent-care wait times will take time. Provincial leaders report ongoing discussions with additional US-trained doctors, while the government continues to expand primary care clinics. Undetermined at this time