The Manitoba government is continuing to address surgical wait times by adding 200 hip and knee replacement surgeries across Manitoba this year, in addition to the 800 completed at Selkirk Regional Health Centre this past year.
“The results in Selkirk speak for themselves,” said Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care Minister Uzoma Asagwara. “Eight hundred additional hip and knee surgeries have meant hundreds more Manitobans getting care sooner and spending less time waiting in pain. By expanding this program and adding capacity across the province, we’re helping even more patients regain their mobility, independence and quality of life.”
The additional surgeries build on the Manitoba government’s investment in expanding surgical capacity at Selkirk Regional Health Centre. The centre completed 800 hip and knee replacement procedures last year and has become an important part of Manitoba’s efforts to reduce surgical backlogs and improve access to care.
Patients will continue to be prioritized through Manitoba’s centralized surgical wait-list system, ensuring more patients receive care based on clinical need and length of wait, the minister noted.
“This work reflects the progress being made across Manitoba to strengthen surgical care,” said Dr. Ed Buchel, provincial surgery specialty lead, Shared Health. “Through collaboration, innovation and a shared commitment to improving access, we are increasing capacity, making better use of health-care resources, and helping patients receive care sooner.”
“The expansion of orthopedic surgery in Selkirk means more Manitobans can receive care closer to home while helping improve access to surgery across the province,” said Dr. Thomas Turgeon, orthopedic surgeon, Concordia Hospital. “It’s a great example of how regional programs can enhance the patient experience and strengthen our health-care system.”
A record 7,056 hip and knee replacement surgeries were completed across Manitoba in 2025, the highest annual total on record, the minister noted, adding that nearly 70 per cent of joint replacements are now performed as outpatient procedures, allowing patients to recover at home while freeing up hospital capacity for additional surgeries.
“Having my knee replacement at Selkirk Regional Health Centre was a wonderful experience for me,” said Melanie Shumilak, knee surgery recipient. “I was pleased to have the option of having my surgery at our beautiful local hospital. Knowing it was day surgery made it so convenient and pleasant. And now, with the expansion of the hip and knee program, my wait time for my other knee is drastically reduced.”
The additional surgeries are part of the Manitoba government’s broader work to rebuild health care, address wait times and ensure patients receive the care they need, when they need it.
