Thank you very much.
I could describe the program at the University of California, in Los Angeles. When the State of California recognized the need to increase the number of medical students and therefore practising physicians, it made a determination that making more of the same would perhaps not address the needs in under-served populations. So UCLA developed a program called UCLA PRIME. It selectively recruited individuals who would do two concurrent degrees: an MD degree to contribute towards the practice of medicine, and a master of public health. It's an extended five-year program instead of four years, but it gives the individuals a distinctly additional skill set to address the needs of distinctly different populations.
I believe they are now close to their first iteration. It is selective recruitment, unique curriculum, and additional skill sets so when they graduate with the MD degree and post-graduate training they have additional skill sets to move into communities of higher need.
The program in Manitoba is a unique and innovative approach. It has not yet been announced by the federal government. The announcement by the minister was to have been last week, and it has been moved to the end of April.
The federal government is partnering with the University of Manitoba, the College of Family Physicians of Canada, and the Government of Manitoba to increase the number of residency positions and the intensity of the training of a select pool of family practice residents to address the needs of northern and remote communities. They are generally those of aboriginal ancestry in northern Manitoba, Nunavut, and a portion of the Northwest Territories.
This is unique. It is the first time, to my knowledge, that the federal government has embarked on a contribution to residency education. There are ten provincial spots that are funded. And for this intake, there are an additional five funded federal spots. Next year there will be ten federal spots funded, for a total complement of twenty post-graduate trainees. Part of their training will be in southern Canada, with a traditional program in family medicine. An extensive component will be trained in remote communities, precepted by experienced physicians in remote and specifically aboriginal health care. These are not just family physicians, but specialists, medical specialists, and other health care professionals who are embedded within communities.
I trust that answers your question.