Manitoba Clinics Address Physician Shortage by Recruiting Internationally Trained Doctors

WINNIPEG, MB - June 25, 2025 Approximately 150,000 Manitoba residents are still in need of access to a family physician, prompting dozens of clinics in the province to actively recruit MDs from other countries, to address the gap.
One such clinic is Millennium Healthcare, Balmoral Street, which has primarily focused on Obs/Gyn specialists since 2014, is now expanding its scope to include family medicine in response to the escalating need for primary healthcare services. "Winnipeg residents, especially new immigrants, have faced challenges in accessing primary healthcare since 2019. Our walk-in obs/gyn patients have shared their struggles with inaccessible primary healthcare, inspiring us to expand our services to family medicine. Over the past year, we have recruited qualified family physicians from overseas, thanks to the 2023 amendments that have facilitated the entry of internationally educated physicians into the Manitoba healthcare workforce," says Sylvia Meher, Clinic Manager.

A patient at Millennium Healthcare expressed their relief, stating, "I have been searching for a family doctor since 2020. I am pleased to have found a clinic that listened to us and provided assistance."
Express Medical Care, has followed a similar path, actively recruiting doctors from countries with healthcare training systems comparable to Canada's, such as the UK, Ireland, US, and New Zealand. "We have recruited 2 new doctors from the UK and plan to onboard one more by early 2026," said Andrew Chubey, owner and director, Express Medical Care.

What made Manitoba clinics recruit family physicians from abroad? "Given the limited pool of potential graduates, exploring international talent was the most logical step. Over the past six months, building relationships with Dr. Sala and Firas has been truly rewarding, and I'm excited for the compassion they'll bring to patient care at Millennium Healthcare" says Chubey.

In 2023, Health Minister Audrey Gordon announced significant regulatory updates in the Manitoba healthcare system. "We worked with the governing body of physicians in Manitoba to streamline the path, reduce barriers and enable internationally trained physicians to provide care sooner in alignment with our government's $200-million Health Human Resource Action Plan," said Gordon.
One key change was the removal of the requirement to pass the Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Exam Part 1 (MCCQE1) before registering and practicing in Manitoba for doctors who have successfully completed their residency programs with certifying exams abroad. This measure expedited the recruitment of new doctors in the province without compromising patient safety.

"I feel the MCCQE1 exam served as a barrier to many doctors planning to move to Canada. This new policy change allows for an easier transition to clinical practice in Canada, making the decision to come here more appealing," says Dr. Firas, general physician, Millennium Healthcare.

Millennium Healthcare & Pharmacy
309 Balmoral St. Winnipeg, MB, Canada R3C 4A8
Phone number: (204) 505-2977

Media Contact
Soumyasree Ghosh
Marketing Manager
1106-A Henderson Highway,
Winnipeg, MB R2G 1L1

WINNIPEG, MB - June 25, 2025 Approximately 150,000 Manitoba residents are still in need of access to a family physician, prompting dozens of clinics in the province to actively recruit MDs from other countries, to address the gap.
One such clinic is Millennium Healthcare, Balmoral Street, which has primarily focused on Obs/Gyn specialists since 2014, is now expanding its scope to include family medicine in response to the escalating need for primary healthcare services. "Winnipeg residents, especially new immigrants, have faced challenges in accessing primary healthcare since 2019. Our walk-in obs/gyn patients have shared their struggles with inaccessible primary healthcare, inspiring us to expand our services to family medicine. Over the past year, we have recruited qualified family physicians from overseas, thanks to the 2023 amendments that have facilitated the entry of internationally educated physicians into the Manitoba healthcare workforce," says Sylvia Meher, Clinic Manager.

A patient at Millennium Healthcare expressed their relief, stating, "I have been searching for a family doctor since 2020. I am pleased to have found a clinic that listened to us and provided assistance."
Express Medical Care, has followed a similar path, actively recruiting doctors from countries with healthcare training systems comparable to Canada's, such as the UK, Ireland, US, and New Zealand. "We have recruited 2 new doctors from the UK and plan to onboard one more by early 2026," said Andrew Chubey, owner and director, Express Medical Care.

What made Manitoba clinics recruit family physicians from abroad? "Given the limited pool of potential graduates, exploring international talent was the most logical step. Over the past six months, building relationships with Dr. Sala and Firas has been truly rewarding, and I'm excited for the compassion they'll bring to patient care at Millennium Healthcare" says Chubey.

In 2023, Health Minister Audrey Gordon announced significant regulatory updates in the Manitoba healthcare system. "We worked with the governing body of physicians in Manitoba to streamline the path, reduce barriers and enable internationally trained physicians to provide care sooner in alignment with our government's $200-million Health Human Resource Action Plan," said Gordon.
One key change was the removal of the requirement to pass the Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Exam Part 1 (MCCQE1) before registering and practicing in Manitoba for doctors who have successfully completed their residency programs with certifying exams abroad. This measure expedited the recruitment of new doctors in the province without compromising patient safety.

"I feel the MCCQE1 exam served as a barrier to many doctors planning to move to Canada. This new policy change allows for an easier transition to clinical practice in Canada, making the decision to come here more appealing," says Dr. Firas, general physician, Millennium Healthcare.

This release was published on openPR.