Rudd pledges $148m for GP training

Filed in: News » 2008 » 11 » Rudd Pledges 148m For Gp Train »

Website: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/11/05/2410870.htm

10.11.08

ABC News reports:

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has announced more funding to train an extra 175 general practitioners.

The Government is spending an extra $148 million on the new training places over the next two years.

Seventy-five of the new places will be available next year and an additional 100 places will be available in 2010, bringing the total number of general practitioner training places to 700.

Some unsuccessful applicants will be reconsidered for university places next year.

Speaking in Launceston ahead of a community cabinet meeting, Mr Rudd said the money would help tackle the national shortage of GPs.

"We need more GPs, we've got to train for more GPs, that doesn't simply appear out of the ether," he said.

"Governments have got to fund training places at universities for that to happen and there's been a deficit in the past. We've got to turn that deficit around."

Mr Rudd says this will help tackle the nationwide GP shortage, which currently affects six in 10 Australians.

Health Minister Nicola Roxon says that for the first time this year there were more than the 600 medical graduates wanting to go into general practice.

Previously there was a cap of 600 GPs being trained each year, she said.

"The cap the former Liberal government had in place is well outdated," Ms Roxon said.

"We didn't want to be in the position that we were turning away young students who want to go into an area of practice where they are needed.

"So we've made this decision to make this additional investment so that we can have those extra 75 students in training next year."

Ms Roxon said all states will benefit from the extra GPs.

The Government is also investing an extra $18.4 million in a vocational training scheme for doctors in remote communities.

 


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