{
  "id": 10753448,
  "title": "Eliminating short-term sick notes ‘big step forward’: Doctors Manitoba",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/eliminating-short-term-sick-notes-big-step-forward-doctors-manitoba",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-29T18:39:33.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Winnipeg Free Press",
    "slug": "winnipeg-free-press",
    "url": "https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2026/09/29/eliminating-short-term-sick-notes-big-step-forward-doctors-manitoba"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Manitoba doctors are set to stop issuing sick notes for short-term employee absences starting Thursday, marking a significant change in the province's labour code. This legislation, passed in June, exempts employers from requesting medical documentation when an employee has been absent for more than a week or has called in sick 10 or more times within a calendar year. Dr. Nichelle Desilets, chair of the Doctors Manitoba board, believes this small adjustment in the law could greatly enhance access to medical care for Manitobans and optimize the use of healthcare resources. The physician-advocacy group estimates that eliminating sick notes could free up 300,000 patient visits and 50 additional doctor appointments annually, costing taxpayers around $8 million each year in the process.",
  "summary": "Manitoba doctors will no longer be required to issue sick notes for short-term employee absences due to illness or injury, starting Thursday. The new provincial legislation, which officially passed in […]",
  "key_points": [
    "Manitoba doctors will stop issuing sick notes for short-term absences starting Thursday.",
    "Eliminating sick notes could free 300,000 patient visits and 50 doctor appointments annually."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}