Similar to the Health Professions Act of Alberta (Health Professions Act, n.d.), Manitoba has the Regulated Health Professions Act (RHPA). Previously in Manitoba, there were over 20 statutes governing the various healthcare professionals of the province. The RHPA was established with the purpose to govern all health professions under one act (Government of Manitoba, n.d.). As of authorship, five regulatory colleges (and six professions) have been brought under the RHPA (see table below)
| Colleges under the RHPA | Colleges in the process of transitioning |
| -The College of Audiologists and Speech Language Pathologists of Manitoba (2014) -The College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba (2018) -The College of Physicians and Surgeons (2019) -The College of Paramedics of Manitoba (2020) -The College of Psychiatric Nurses of Manitoba (2022) | -The College of Physiotherapists of Manitoba -The College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Manitoba -The College of Medical Laboratory Technologists of Manitoba -Psychologists Association of Manitoba |
| (The Manitoba Alliance of Health Regulatory Colleges, n.d.) | |
The RHPA aims to establish a framework for the formation and operation of the colleges. The colleges are tasked with regulating their respective professions by establishing and enforcing standards of practice, providing practice directions, and upholding codes of ethics. Additionally, they oversee the regulation of entry into the profession, manage complaints and disciplinary issues, and ensure that professionals maintain their competency (Government of Manitoba, n.d.).
One of the significant changes resulting from the consolidation of all professions under a single Act is that reserved acts—such as making a diagnosis, ordering and interpreting tests, performing procedures, prescribing, and dispensing—will no longer be confined to specific professions. Regulatory colleges will establish regulations outlining which reserved acts may be undertaken by their respective members. Furthermore, the colleges have the discretion to regulate whether their members can accept the delegation of reserved acts from other professions. These changes are expected to promote greater interprofessional collaboration (Government of Manitoba, n.d.).
The RHPA also established the Health Profession Advisory Council. The Health Advisory Council, as outlined in the RHPA, advises the minister on matters related to regulated health professions, including reserved acts, professional titles, entry-to-practice requirements, competency programs, and health human resource planning, ensuring effective regulation and public safety (The Regulated Health Professions Act, 2024).
As of authorship, the College of Pharmacists of Manitoba have not been brought under the RHPA and pharmacy professionals continue to be governed under the Pharmaceutical Act (The Pharmaceutical Act, 2022).
Last edited: January 26, 2025
References
Government of Manitoba. (n.d.). The Regulated Health Professions Act (RHPA). Government of Manitoba. Retrieved January 25, 2025, from https://www.gov.mb.ca/health/rhpa/index.html
Health Professions Act, c. H-7 R.S.A. 2000.
The Manitoba Alliance of Health Regulatory Colleges. (n.d.). The Regulated Health Professions Act. Retrieved January 26, 2025, from https://mahrc.net/rhpa/
The Pharmaceutical Act, c. P60 C.C.S.M (2022). https://web2.gov.mb.ca/laws/statutes/ccsm/_pdf.php?cap=p60
The Regulated Health Professions Act, c. R117 C.C.S.M (2024).
Jennifer Butler, B.Sc.(Pharm) 