Manitoba doctors set out to ‘tariff-proof’ medical equipment, supplies

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This article was published 27/02/2025 (206 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

When vascular surgeon Dr. Randy Guzman is in the operating room, he wants to make sure the stent or graft he needs is at hand and not affected by a trade dispute with the United States.

Guzman, the president of Doctors Manitoba and a surgeon at St. Boniface Hospital, said the physician organization must write a prescription for the province’s doctors to help “tariff-proof” the health-care system while supporting the mental and physical well-being of Manitobans.

Guzman said doctors need to determine the origin of their supplies and, if they come from the U.S., whether there are options to buy them in Canada.

“We’re not quite where the grocery chains are at, in identifying what is supplied and what is at risk, but we need to get there and we are asking our members and our suppliers,” he said during a Thursday news conference.

“Physicians have been asked to identify equipment and supplies from the U.S. that could be vulnerable to supply disruptions or price increases.”

Guzman said he knows the majority of stents and grafts come from the U.S., and it might be time to check elsewhere.

“We may have to, just as the government is pivoting, to maybe look at our supply chains and stock up on the non-U.S. side,” he said. “I think we are somewhat at risk because sometimes you can’t get those devices or equipment any other way.

“Hopefully, we can get those off the tariff retaliatory list.”

U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday he will go ahead with tariffs against Canada next week.

Trump originally said blanket tariffs of 25 per cent would be slapped on almost all goods entering his country from Canada and Mexico on Feb. 4. He later paused the tariffs for a month, but said they would go ahead March 4.

Trump has also announced another tariff of 25 per cent on all steel and aluminum beginning March 12, saying that tax would be added to the earlier tariff for a total of 50 per cent.

Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara said with the threat of tariffs looming, the government’s top priority is “ensuring Manitobans get the care that they need.

“Our government has been encouraging folk to buy local, to buy Canadian and we’re going to do the same,” Asagwara said.

“We’re going to look to buy local to buy Canadian and then look elsewhere, but always putting patients first.”

Keir Johnson, a Doctors Manitoba spokesman, said it’s because of the tariff spectre that a recent survey of more than 1,400 doctors found they are concerned about getting allergy supplies, vaccines and drugs, examination and surgical gloves, IV fluids, and medication pumps.

The same survey found 95 per cent of Manitoba doctors are concerned about the economic uncertainty from the threatened tariffs.

Alex Bouchard, a manager with the locally based Innovative Medical Supplies, said they sell medical supplies at their four outlets in the province ranging from braces and orthotics to walkers and canes, which they purchase mainly from Canadian and international companies. Some do come from the U.S.

“I know they are trying to keep medical devices and braces out of the tariffs, but we don’t know yet,” Bouchard said.

“It is a limbo game and we are waiting to see how it all shakes out.”

Guzman offered praise to Premier Wab Kinew for his leadership against the tariff threat.

“His forward thinking actions, in what he calls Trump-proofing Manitoba, has been right on,” he said.

“Doctors Manitoba wants to offer advice to expand this type of thinking, the Trump-proofing strategy, to include our health-care system along with Manitobans’ health and well-being, too.”

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca