Manitoba is providing incentives for family medicine and pediatric clinics to offer extended hours, health minister Audrey Gordon said in an update on the province’s Health Human Resources Action Plan Monday morning.
Gordon, who was joined by advanced education and training minister Sarah Guillemard, as well as representatives of Doctors Manitoba — said the clinics offering extended hours can receive a 20 per cent premium on extended hour billings.
The eligible extended hours can be used for walk-ins and for seeing existing patients, the minister said, and are part of a series of changes aimed at repairing the province’s healthcare system.
“We recognize the enormous contributions of primary-care providers and pediatricians and the care they provide to Manitobans,” said Gordon.
“Providing an incentive to extend clinic hours will make accessing care more convenient and timely, while taking pressure off emergency departments and urgent care centres so the health-care system functions more efficiently overall.”
In addition, the province says it’s funding 40 new undergrad physician training seats, 10 more in the international medical graduate program, and 30 more in the two-year postgrad medical education program for internationally-educated med students — totalling, potentially, 80 new Manitoba-trained doctors.
Doctors Manitoba’s Physician Peer Support program — which provides support networks for people in the industry to help reduce the chances of burnout — will also receive $450,000 from the province.
The organization’s president Dr. Candace Bradshaw said Monday’s announcement was an example of the government responding directly to recommendations and advice from local physicians.
“From an innovative and unique-in-Canada approach to help clinics with extending their hours, to a significant expansion in medical training, to new resources for supporting physician wellness and avoiding burnout, all three of these actions will help to support better access to medical care for Manitobans.”