More than 20 new doctors will serve residents in Manitoba filling the shortage of physicians.

22  new doctors are set to serve rural Manitoba communities that faced a doctor shortage earlier this year.

In May, the health authority released figures listing 31 vacant family physician positions out of 84 positions total — a vacancy rate of about 37 per cent.

19 family physicians and three specialists have started or will soon start work in communities in the Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority, including Stonewall, Selkirk, Gimli and Pine Falls.

12 more doctors are expected to be hired next year.

Ron Van Denakker, CEO of the Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority, said 22 new hires is a good start but doesn't eliminate the area's doctor shortage.

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