Pilot project adding doctors to Health Links calls in push to reduce ER wait times

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Premier Wab Kinew said the province is testing out how doctors can be added to Health Links calls.

The Manitoba Premier said in an interview Thursday on CTV Your Morning Winnipeg a pilot project is underway into the “expanded offering,” allowing some calling Health Links-Info Santé to talk to a doctor.

Currently, those calling the 24/7 service are connected with a registered nurse to answer health-care questions and guide the caller to where to get the care they need.

“We’re about a couple weeks into this soft launch of this new approach,” he said.

Manitoba Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara provided more details about the pilot project on Thursday, noting a physician was added to the program earlier this month. They are currently available from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Later in December, another clinician is slated to join so physician services can also be available overnight.

“I know many Manitobans have had the experience of calling Health Links, only to be told to go wait for hours in an emergency room,” Asagwara said in a news release.

“By adding physicians to the service, we’re giving patients direct access to primary care on the phone and helping to reduce unnecessary referrals to emergency care. It means more peace of mind for patients and less pressure on the health-care system.”

Discussions about improving Health Links were mentioned in the 2025 provincial budget, though further details, like a financial commitment or rollout timeline, were not provided.

According to the province, Health Links receives an average of 400 calls a day, with roughly 40 of those patients triaged to emergency departments.

In the first 10 days of the physician pilot project, 160 patients were transferred to speak with a doctor and only 10 of those were triaged to an ER.

- With files from CTV’s Rachel Lagacé