|
2026: Year of Retention
While physician recruitment is picking up, with a record net gain last year, Manitoba still lags behind when it comes to retaining physicians. This was a key focus of a recent presentation by our President, Dr. Nichelle Desilets, at a recent event hosted by the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce. With more than 300 business and community leaders in attendance, Dr. Desilets explained the key to improving the health system lies in improving the retention of doctors and other providers. Read more about the presentation here.
As always, our staff team wants to hear from you about how to improve retention. Share your views by emailing practiceadvice@doctorsmanitoba.ca.
Benefit Check Up
Our staff have been hard at work making it easier than ever to claim rebates and benefits through Doctors Manitoba. Here’s a few quick tips to ensure you don’t miss out:
- Every fully licensed physician can get back $4,000 or more on expenses related to your continuing professional development. You can submit your expenses anytime under our Claim-As-You-Learn rebate. Check your bank and apply here.
- If your 2025 CMPA costs exceed $1,000, you can now apply to get 100% of the costs over $1,000 back under our CMPA Rebate! Apply here.
- You can now get a roadmap of future payments under our Physician Retention Benefit, which offers a bonus payment every five years for continued service to Manitobans. This new feature is great to inform career decisions like retirement. Check it out.
Our benefits are provincially funded, thanks to our Physician Services Agreement. If you have questions about our benefit programs, contact the team at benefits@doctorsmanitoba.ca.
Physician Services Agreement Prep
Every specialty has now had a town hall with our Practice Advice and Compensation team to discuss their concerns and priorities as we look ahead to negotiating the next Physician Services Agreement (PSA). The current PSA doesn’t expire until 2027, but given the diversity and complexity within the medical community, we start preparing early to ensure our team can connect with all specialties and physician groups.
During these town halls, our team shared the current political and economic outlook, one that is expected to remain tight and challenging from a fiscal perspective over the next few years. Economic uncertainty continues to be a theme due to international trade pressures. While there remains a commitment to improving health care, new funding is expected to be very limited.
Your feedback is helping to chart a path forward, to ensure we can negotiate the funding and resources needed to support physician services and excellent patient care across Manitoba.
You can share your concerns and ideas directly with the team by emailing practiceadvice@doctorsmanitoba.ca.
Futures Thinking
Last November, the Board held a retreat to learn more about futures thinking. This approach goes beyond the typical four- or five-year cycles we see in funding agreements, government mandates, or strategic plans and looks at an extended horizon of 10 to 30 years. While longer timespans have much more uncertainty, thinking ahead in this way can be useful to anticipate what might be coming that could impact physicians and our patients.
The Board was inspired by this approach, and will be applying “futures thinking” to our work on your behalf, to help us be more forward thinking in all we do to represent the profession.
Save the Dates
May 1 is not only National Physicians Day, it’s also our Annual Awards Gala. Save the date for the signature event of the year for the physician community. We revealed our Resident of the Year, Dr. Tegan Turner, during Resident Doctor Appreciation Week, and we will be unveiling the rest of the 2026 winners later this month. Please join us in celebrating at the Awards Gala May 1 at the RBC Convention Centre.
April 15 is our Annual General Meeting. This year, we will be hosting it in Portage la Prairie, with a virtual option for those unable to attend in person. Please hold the evening for this event, which will include updates from our outgoing President Dr. Desilets, and our CEO Theresa Oswald. We will learn who our President-Elect is for the year ahead.
Doc360 is Here for You
Doctors Manitoba has been at work enhancing our support for the professional, mental, and physical well-being of physicians and learners via Doc360.
Support for Dependents 12+: The Doctors Manitoba Physician and Family Support Program has expanded its services to now provide counselling and service navigation support to members’ dependent children 12 years of age and older.
Need help? Call the self-referral intake line anytime at 204−237−8320, toll free at 1 – 844 – 433-DRMB (1−844−433−3762) or complete the online intake form.
| 
