NDP pledges new family medical centres; Liberals to cover psychotherapy costs

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This article was published 08/09/2023 (763 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Manitoba’s New Democratic and Liberal party leaders kept their election campaign focused on health care Friday, each making promises to expand access to primary care and cover psychotherapy costs.

NDP Leader Wab Kinew committed to spend $25 million annually so doctors can bring nurse practitioners, physician assistants, pharmacists, mental health and social workers into their existing practices to offer team-based care.

“All of these health experts will be at your fingertips, working together to provide comprehensive care that keeps you healthy and enjoying life in the community,” Kinew said Friday morning at an announcement in downtown Winnipeg.

The Fort Rouge candidate also pledged to open five new family medical centres — four in Winnipeg and one in Brandon — over four years and at a total cost of $33 million to cover operating expenses.

The commitment is in addition to the five “minor injury and illness” clinics in Winnipeg and Brandon promised Wednesday by the NDP. Those clinics would be staffed by emergency room physicians and would accept patients needing lower-acuity treatments, such as stitches.

The party is budgeting $2 million annually in incentives for doctors to open and run minor injury and illness clinics. The provincial government is not expected to pay capital expenses for the new clinics, according to the NDP.

Kinew was joined at the announcement by Dr. Will Ring, psychiatric nurse Kelly-Ann Stevenson and Dr. Lisa Monkman (who is Kinew’s wife).

The trio of health-care workers endorsed the team-based primary care approach, saying it provides the best care model for both families and doctors.

Kinew said the team-based primary care has been shown to reduce pressure on doctors and increase their overall roster of patients, who experience shorter waits for appointments.

The NDP leader also pledged to hire 250 “health providers” to work in doctors’ offices and clinics over four years and committed to create 10 new physician training seats for medical students from the Westman region of the province.

Team-based care incentives for doctors would be funded through the NDP’s $500-million recruitment strategy, announced in late August.

According to a statement from advocacy group Doctors Manitoba: “Team-based care is really the next frontier for health care in Canada… (It is the) first recommendation in our Prescription for Health Care (report). We are encouraged to see our recommendation on expanding team-based care being adopted today and we hope to see our complete plan to improve health care adopted by all parties, as the election unfolds.”

Owing to the “urgent need to connect more Manitobans with family physicians,” Kinew said giving financial incentives to doctors is a better option than opening new Access Centres, which are run by regional health authorities and already offer comprehensive health and social services in one place.

“I’m a firm believer that physicians or the RPNs, the NPs, can run these facilities in an excellent way and that’s really what we’re committing to,” he said.

Winnipeg Free Press | Newsletter

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Meantime, Liberal Leader Dougald Lamont promised to make regulated psychotherapy part of the provincial health-care system and cover associated costs to see registered psychologists.

“This means, instead of having to go into your pocket to pay for therapy for you, your child or loved one, it would be covered through your provincial health plan,” Lamont said in a release. “So for every Manitoban — whether you’re in a private-sector job or the public sector, will get coverage.”

The party estimates covering therapy for Manitobans would cost the provincial government $51 million annually.

Lamont also pledged to expand training for psychologists and create a new doctor of psychology program at the University of Manitoba; fund a 24-7 referral line for addictions treatment; support overdose prevention centres; and cover burnout and mental injuries under the Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba.

danielle.dasilva@freepress.mb.ca