Report: rural doctor shortage remains critical

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Report: rural doctor shortage remains critical

Posted by Cosmin Florescu | 12.05.08

The government audit of the rural health workforce was released recently by the Minister for Health and Ageing. It confirmed the critical shortage of health professionals in rural and remote communities. Despite increases in general practitioner numbers in these areas there remains a significant shortfall, particularly considering the poorer health experienced by those living in rural and remote areas. The increase in doctor numbers has been largely attributed to the government's policy of directing international medical graduates to rural and remote areas. Even with increased medical student numbers Australia is likely to remain reliant on international medical graduates for a long time. The report has been welcomed by the Rural Health Workforce Australia. CEO Dr Kim Webber highlighted the need for further action: "We hope that this audit will be followed up with strategies to tackle the rural health workforce shortages... increasing numbers of medical students will do nothing on its own without those students then choosing to live and work in rural and remote Australia... we need to ensure that more rural origin students enter medical courses and that all students are exposed to rural practice during their training."

 


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