A series of financial audits of Manitoba health authorities, spanning from 2019-20 to 2023-24, have uncovered “systemic government failures” that have undermined front-line workers, worsened the culture within the health-care system, and ultimately impacted patient care, Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care Minister Uzoma Asagwara announced today.
The audits, commissioned by the Manitoba government in March 2024 and conducted by independent auditors, reviewed all regional health authorities except Southern Health-Santé Sud. Asagwara stated the findings reveal a disconnect between the government’s stated goal of improving health-care culture and the actual decisions made by health system leadership.
“From the beginning, our government has been focused on shifting the culture in health care,” said Asagwara. “We’ve tasked all levels of health-care leadership to redirect funding from the bloated bureaucracy to the front lines, address culture and prioritize patient care above all else. However, the audits reveal systemic government failures that have undermined morale for front-line workers while worsening the culture in our health-care system.”
The audits point to a breakdown in communication and collaboration between health organizations, creating governance challenges in holding each service delivery organization (SDO) accountable for its mandate. The report states, “…over time, the processes, approaches and culture appear to have shifted to a point where collaboration between organizations can, at times, appear to be at odds.”
Adding to the concerns, Asagwara noted that all but one health authority has consistently reported year-over-year deficits. The minister argued these accumulated deficits are a symptom of a health-care culture that prioritizes bureaucracy over front-line care, deprioritizes patients, and ignores the voices of front-line workers. The reviews also highlighted “significant challenges in how SDOs work with government to ensure both fiscal responsibility and the achievement of delivering high standards of clinical care.”
Despite these challenges, the Manitoba government reaffirmed its commitment to investing in the public health system. Asagwara outlined several measures already taken, including curbing the use of private nursing agencies, investing an additional $1 billion in health-care spending, hiring over 870 net-new health-care workers, and adding hundreds of staffed beds. The minister promised further action to address the identified governance failures. “Revealing these results is another step we are taking to ensure we continue the process of fixing health care,” Asagwara concluded.
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