Manitoba Health


Manitoba Health, Seniors and Long–Term Care is the department of the Government of Manitoba that is responsible for leading the development of policy and publicly administered health system planning in the province of Manitoba; the overall funding, performance requirements, oversight, and accountability within the system; promoting prevention and positive health practices; and administering other non-devolved health services in the province.
The department operates under the Minister of Health, who has been Uzoma Asagwara as of 2023. The Chief Provincial Public Health Officer, Brent Roussin, serves under the Minister and Deputy Minister of Health.
The department is the authoritative agency in the province regarding the COVID-19 pandemic in Manitoba.

Overview

Manitoba Health funds a social program that is delivered partially by the department and partially through grant agencies, arm's-length service delivery organizations, independent physicians, or other service providers paid via fee-for-service or alternate means. Most direct services are delivered through the Regional Health Authorities and other health care organizations. Manitoba Health, on the other hand, directly delivers only a small portion of the program itself, particularly managing the direct operations of Selkirk Mental Health Centre, Cadham Provincial Laboratory, and 3 northern nursing stations. The department also administers such non-devolved health services as Pharmacare, insured benefits, fee-for-service physician services, etc. The ultimate result is an intricate combination of insured benefits, funded services provided via public institutions—ranging from community-based primary care to third-party teaching hospitals—and publicly regulated but privately provided services, such as for-profit personal care homes.
Manitoba Health also plays a role in policy, planning, funding, and oversight that ensures that SDOs are accountable to provide high-quality services at a reasonable cost.

Minister of Health

The Minister of Health is the cabinet minister responsible for Manitoba Health, guided by the Public Health Act of Manitoba.
NamePartyTook officeLeft officeOfficial title
Charles CannonUFM/ProgNovember 19, 1924September 9, 1927Minister of Health
Edward MontgomeryUFM/ProgNovember 19, 1924September 9, 1927Minister of Health and Public Welfare
Isaac GriffithsLib-ProgMay 28, 1935November 4, 1940Minister of Health and Public Welfare
James McLenaghenPCNovember 4, 1940February 5, 1944Minister of Health
Ivan SchultzLib-ProgFebruary 5, 1944November 7, 1952Minister of Health
Francis BellLib-ProgNovember 7, 1952January 25, 1955Minister of Health and Public Welfare
Robert BendLib-ProgJanuary 25, 1955June 30, 1958Minister of Health and Public Welfare
George JohnsonPCJune 30, 1958December 9, 1963Minister of Health and Public Welfare
Charles WitneyPCDecember 9, 1963September 24, 1968Minister of Health
George JohnsonPCSeptember 24, 1968July 15, 1969Minister of Health
Sidney GreenNDPJuly 15, 1969December 18, 1969Minister of Health and Social Development
Rene ToupinNDPDecember 18, 1969January 28, 1974Minister of Health and Social Development
Saul MillerNDPJanuary 28, 1974December 23, 1974Minister of Health and Social Development
Laurent DesjardinsNDPDecember 23, 1974October 24, 1977Minister of Health and Social Development
Louis ShermanPCOctober 24, 1977November 30, 1981Minister of Health and Social Development
Minister of Health and Community Services
Laurent DesjardinsNDPNovember 30, 1981September 21, 1987Minister of Health
Wilson ParasiukNDPSeptember 21, 1987May 9, 1988Minister of Health
Donald OrchardPCMay 9, 1988September 10, 1993Minister of Health
James McCraePCSeptember 10, 1993January 6, 1997Minister of Health
Darren PraznikPCJanuary 6, 1997February 5, 1999Minister of Health
Eric StefansonPCFebruary 5, 1999October 5, 1999Minister of Health
David ChomiakNDPOctober 5, 1999October 12, 2004Minister of Health
Tim SaleNDPOctober 12, 2004September 28, 2006Minister of Health
Theresa OswaldNDPSeptember 28, 2006October 18, 2013Minister of Health
Erin SelbyNDPOctober 18, 2013November 3, 2014Minister of Health
Sharon BladyNDPNovember 3, 2014May 3, 2016Minister of Health
Kelvin GoertzenPCMay 3, 2016July 31, 2018Minister of Health, Seniors and Active Living
Cameron FriesenPCAugust 1, 2018January 5, 2021Minister of Health, Seniors and Active Living
Heather StefansonPCJanuary 5, 2021August 18, 2021Minister of Health and Seniors Care
Audrey GordonPCAugust 18, 2021January 18, 2022Minister of Health and Seniors Care
Audrey GordonPCJanuary 18, 2022October 18, 2023Minister of Health
Uzoma AsagwaraNDPOctober 18, 2023incumbentMinister of Health, Seniors, and Long-term Care