Lack of applicants for medical lab sciences program a concern, says Manitoba regulator

The head of the regulatory body for medical lab technologists in Manitoba says he's concerned about a post-secondary program that has more available seats than applications.

Red River College Polytechnic has only 28 applicants for 40 available spots in the next intake for its medical laboratory sciences program, according to Adam Chrobak, the registrar and CEO of the College of Medical Lab Technologists of Manitoba.

"We need absolutely every single graduate that comes out of the Red River program to enter the profession to meet the critical shortages," he said.

It's hard to tell why people aren't applying for these programs, Chrobak said, but he thinks many people don't know or understand what a medical lab technologist does.

"They work in the lab, they generally look at all of the samples that are coming in, and the reports they issue are critical in health-care providers making decisions on treatment plans and next steps in someone's health-care journey," he said.

Rural and remote locations have been hit particularly hard by lab technologist shortages, said Chrobak. It's generally difficult to recruit people to work in rural and remote areas, and a smaller pool of potential employees adds to that challenge, he said.

CBC News reached out to RRC Polytech for comment, but was told nobody was available to talk about the program.

More lab techs in Manitoba now: Shared Health

The western Manitoba municipality of Hamiota, just northwest of Brandon, currently has two full-time lab technologists, said Mayor Randy Lints — but the more immediate concern there right now is getting more doctors.

The municipality has the equivalent of 3.25 full-time doctors, and previously had five, he said.

"If we can get the doctor number back up or even increased from where we were, if you want to say in the good old days, then everything else will go up with that," he said — including more demand for lab technologists.

With more doctors, "we'll have more acute beds, we'll have more lab and X-ray technologists, because we'll have to have it to supplement the workload from the doctors."

A spokesperson for Shared Health — the body that oversees health-care delivery in the province — said in a statement to CBC News it's concerned the upcoming class allotments in RRC Polytech's program haven't been filled and are working with the college on how it can better support awareness of the program.

Shared Health also said there are more medical lab technologists currently working in Manitoba than there were a year ago, with 50.5 full-time equivalent positions filled as of last month, compared to 48.7 positions in March 2023.

Ten more positions have been created and posted in the past year, with a number of opportunities for medical lab technologist and medical lab assistant positions available in communities throughout Manitoba, the statement said.

A class of 35 medical lab technologists is currently completing the practicum portion of their studies, with jobs available to them in Manitoba upon their graduation in January, according to Shared Health.

Manitoba's Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara said the province is looking at training pathways for lab technologists. (CBC)

Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara also said recruitment and retention remains a priority.

"We're also looking at the training pathways for lab techs. We want to make sure that folks know about the opportunities to get this education, but that the pathways are easier as well," Asagwara said following question period at the Manitoba Legislature on Wednesday.

In the budget it released earlier this month, the NDP government promised $310 million toward its goal of hiring 1,000 new health-care workers over the next year.

Meanwhile, Chrobak said he'd also like to see more interest and promotion for lab technologist recruitment, especially for students deciding what they'd like to do with their future.

The profession hasn't been promoted as well as it should be, he said.

"If grads from high school or university don't know about the profession, they're not gonna even consider applying for them, right?"