May 16, 2013 MORE DOCTORS TO PRACTISE IN MANITOBA, PROVIDE MORE CARE FOR MANITOBA FAMILIES: OSWALD Health Minister Theresa Oswald today congratulated the University of Manitoba faculty of medicine’s class of 2013, noting it is one of the largest graduating classes on record. The minister also welcomed those highly trained graduates who were successful in competing for a Manitoba residency. “I’m pleased that more than 70 per cent of Manitoba’s 105 medical school graduates plan to stay in Manitoba for their residencies,” said Oswald.  “These new, locally trained doctors will help provide timely access for medical care in hospitals and help bring us closer to our goal of ensuring all Manitobans have access to a family physician by 2015.” Dr. Brian Postl, dean of the University of Manitoba faculty of medicine, congratulated the graduates and recognized the value of Manitoba’s expanded residency program. “Many physicians build connections with the communities they work in during their residency training and as a result decide to work in that community once they have completed training,” said Postl.  “Creating additional residency spaces helps us to retain physicians and ultimately benefits our province overall.” Dr. Brock Wright, chair of the Provincial Medical Leadership Council, joined in congratulating the graduates. “I’m particularly pleased so many graduates have chosen to remain in Manitoba or plan to return here once they finish specialty training,” said Wright, who is also senior vice-president of the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority.  “These well-trained physicians, who already have experience in the Manitoba health-care system, can begin immediately benefiting patients from across the province.” The Manitoba government has made significant investments in the training of doctors including expanding medical school training to 110 seats after it had been reduced to 70 seats during the 1990s, Oswald said.  Earlier this month, the minister announced funding for 15 additional medical residencies in Manitoba, bringing the total first-year residencies to 136, the largest on record. “More doctors in our province is great news for Manitoba families,” she said.  “With investments in expanded medical training, new recruitment grants and improvements in health care, more doctors are choosing to practise in Manitoba at record levels.”  According to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba, there are over 2,500 doctors working in Manitoba, over 500 more than there were in 1999.  Between 1993 and 1999, the college reported a decrease of 116 fewer doctors working in the province. - 30 -  BACKGROUND INFORMATION ATTACHED

Doctors in Manitoba