Manitoba Government To Pay Tuition For Rural Doctors

Rural communities in dire need of more family doctors.

With rural communities in dire need of more family doctors, The Government of Manitoba is taking action.

This week they announced that, by 2015, medical students will be eligible for grants of $12,000 for each of their four years of medical school. In return, they are required to work for six months in an under-serviced area upon graduation.

“With this new program we are strengthening incentives for medical school graduates willing to work where they are needed most so that all Manitoba families can benefit from our significant investments in health care,” said The Premier of Manitoba, Greg Selinger.

He also pointed out the strides the province has made in doctor-recruitment over the past decade.

“Today there are 405 more doctors and 40 more medical school spaces than there were in 1999 as a result of our government’s aggressive education, recruitment and retention efforts.”

Exactly what regions qualify as “Underserved areas” will be decided on a year-to-year basis, with med students being given the option of picking where they serve after graduation.

The program will potentially give students $61,000 in exchange for 2 1/2 years of service. The Province will also provide tuition-tax rebates, with the Federal Government issuing textbook rebates.