The province is doubling the number of Manitoba students who can train as combined laboratory and X-ray technologists.

The province has secured five additional training seats at Saskatchewan Polytechnic beginning in January to help address diagnostic staffing shortages across rural and northern communities, Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara announced Tuesday.

The cross-trained lab and X-ray techs play a central role in rural hospitals, providing essential lab testing, general radiography and electrocardiogram services.

The additional training seats will cost the province $178,270 for 2025-26. Shared Health will offer return-of-service agreements to Manitoba students accepted into the program, covering tuition and academic expenses in exchange for 5,000 hours — approximately three years of

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