Federal Budget: ACRRM's advocacy efforts heard in a positive budget for rural health

The Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) welcomes the many items in yesterday's 2018 Federal Health Budget that aim to provide increased or continuing support to rural and remote communities.

Following on from the Government's Compact with ACRRM, which signalled its recognition of the importance of rural health workforce development, we welcome some major steps toward strengthening health services for rural communities as outlined in the Budget.

ACRRM President, Associate Professor Ruth Stewart, said the budget "puts forward a strategic approach to healthcare that provides a suite of funding that should be viewed as part of a large package of reforms aimed at strengthening the country's health services.

"We've spent a lot of time consulting with members on their needs and the needs of their communities, and this was the basis for our discussions with the Government and our budget priority list - it's great to see these reflected in the budget after our ongoing advocacy efforts in these areas.

"We would like to extend our thanks to the Government particularly Senator Bridget McKenzie and Minister Greg Hunt, for listening to the needs of our members. They have worked with us on key items such as the National Rural Generalist Pathway."

A commitment to "Stronger Rural Health"

"We've long advocated for the need to recruit and retain the right health care professionals - equipped with the right training and skills - to rural and remote communities," said A/Prof Stewart.

"The Stronger Rural Health Strategy is a step in delivering this, as is the commitment to a National Rural Generalist Pathway, for which ACRRM has been a leading voice for over a decade.

"This strategy will operationalise the College's long-standing vision, emphasising, retention by providing training in rural areas, and making provisions so doctors can continue to work and train in these areas, the strategy should help to fill the training pipeline.

"It also announces an additional 100 rural generalist vocational training posts from 2021, on top of the already allocated 300 positions - this will ensure the program can underpin a workforce of a viable and sustainable size.

"The additional funding earmarked for the creation of two new Junior Doctor Training Program streams is welcomed, particularly the focus on intern placements in rural general practice, which will strengthen a training and career trajectory built around rural practice rather than urban practice.

"We look forward to our continuing discussions with the government as this strategy is further developed and implemented."

Targeted investment to improve health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

"Earlier this year, the Close the Gap Steering Committee ten-year review showed that in spite of the measures put in place in the Close the Gap strategy, health inequality has in fact worsened since the strategy was produced," said A/Prof Stewart.

"The implementation of a new primary care funding model for the Indigenous Australians' Health Program, contributing $3.9 billion in the next four years, and a total of $10 billion over a decade, is a step in the right direction, although the model requires further refinement.

"Funding for specific chronic conditions is encouraging to see, as is the new MBS item for remote dialysis treatments.

"These allowances should be of particularly benefit in rural and remote communities."

Supporting better mental health for all Australians

"The strong commitment to deliver an increase of over $300 million in mental health funding aims to improve services through key providers such as Lifeline and beyondblue," said A/Prof Stewart.

"Specific attention has been paid to areas where commonwealth-funded activity currently doesn't reach, or is limited.

"We note that some of this will be delivered through mental health outreach programs, with $20 million earmarked for regional and rural Australia."

International Medical Graduates

"We welcome funding that will assist ACRRM in its work to upskill and credential the many non-VR international medical graduates across Australia who are interested in practicing in rural and remote areas," said A/Prof Stewart.

"We want rural communities to have the highest standards of health care. In the past 20 years, rural and remote communities have been given access to healthcare through the dedication of many, many international medical graduates.

"We have a duty to developing countries to not drain their resources to meet our needs. As we are graduating more doctors than ever before, it is now possible for Australia to provide doctors in the places they are needed. It is also appropriate that we wind back our intake of international medical graduates and assist those who have made Australia their home to train and qualify to become vocationally registered General Practitioners.

"Those doctors who are not currently vocationally registered in Australia will, thanks to this budget, be able to avail themselves of the grant for support to attain Fellowship."