Eight Doctors Join Prairie Mountain Health to Boost Rural Care

Eight doctors have been recruited to serve in clinics across the Prairie Mountain Health region in western Manitoba. This initiative is part of a provincial program aimed at addressing the pressing need for medical professionals in underserved areas.

The recruitment effort has successfully brought in physicians from various countries, including Nigeria, Pakistan, Iran, the Philippines, and Bangladesh. Six of the doctors are now practicing in communities such as Swan River, Neepawa, Roblin, and Virden, while two more are expected to begin their roles in Souris and Swan River by mid-September 2024.

These recruits are part of the Medical Licensure Program for International Medical Graduates, which aids foreign-trained doctors in obtaining Canadian citizenship or permanent residency. In exchange, they commit to serving in Manitoba communities for a minimum of four years.

Efforts to enhance recruitment have intensified over the past two years, with local health authorities striving to ensure that these internationally trained physicians can establish long-term roots in rural Manitoba. Tamara Kemp-Boulet, a recruitment team co-ordinator with Prairie Mountain Health, elaborated on the approach taken to support the newcomers and their families.

“We collaborate with the community to organize site visits,” Kemp-Boulet stated. “This includes bringing the physician and their family to the area, exploring schools and childcare options, and assisting with job searches for their spouses if applicable.”

The initiative extends to connecting doctors and their families with real estate agents and providing information about the community in advance. Early indications show that this comprehensive approach is yielding positive results, with some doctors choosing to build homes or bring extended family members to Manitoba.

Kemp-Boulet noted a historical challenge in retaining medical staff, but believes the new strategies will make a difference. “In the past, retention wasn’t as strong, but by partnering with communities and giving physicians as much notice as possible about their placements, we expect to see improvements,” she said.

The recruitment effort is crucial as the region continues to face challenges in providing adequate medical services. A study from Doctors Manitoba in August 2024 highlighted that only 18 rural hospitals were reliably open 24/7, with many others operating part-time or having service suspensions.

Uzoma Asagwara, the province’s Health Minister, underscored the importance of this initiative, declaring that the retention and recruitment of medical staff remains a “top priority.” “I want to welcome and thank these new doctors for joining our incredible Manitoba workforce,” Asagwara stated during a press announcement.

Looking ahead, plans are already in place to recruit seven additional doctors for the following year. Should they successfully complete their training, these new recruits are expected to begin their practices in the region by the fall of 2026.

The ongoing effort to enhance healthcare access in rural Manitoba reflects a broader commitment to addressing the healthcare needs of communities that have long faced physician shortages.