Journalists wanting to speak to an ACRRM spokesperson are invited to contact Petrina Smith on 0414 820 847 or email.

The announcement of an additional $318 million to directly benefit General Practitioners and Rural Generalists to support healthy communities is welcomed by the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM).

“This Mid-Year Economic Financial Outlook (MYEFO) recognises there has been a significant underinvestment in health, specifically rural health, and this announcement is a first step in strengthening rural primary health care,” ACRRM President Dr Ewen McPhee says.

“The increased funding allows for an extended scope of services in rural communities across general practice clinics and hospitals where rural generalists, who are the lifeblood of rural areas, practise.

“ACRRM particularly welcomes the commitment of a $33.5 million to increase access for remote and rural patients through telehealth. ACRRM and the Rural Doctors Association of Australia (RDAA) have advocated for greater access to telehealth services in rural committees, when delivered in conjunction with face-to-face consultations with rural generalists who understand individual’s health care needs, so this is tremendous news.

“The government’s commitment to further invest in Indemnity Support Schemes is also positive and we look forward to further information on how this will specifically maintain service levels in rural communities and how it will impact the National Rural Generalist Program,” Dr McPhee adds.

“More detail is also required on new services being added to Medicare and the benefit this will have for rural people. Likewise, the announcement of $5.8 million to trial community-based specialist nurses to care for people living with neurological conditions, including Parkinson’s disease, is positive, and we look forward to finding out the impact of this in rural areas.

“ACRRM will continue to review the MYEFO announcements and work with government to ensure initiatives positively impact rural and remote communities. It is important, as part of the Stronger Rural Health Strategy, that the role of General Practitioners and Rural Generalists is recognised in the delivery of healthy rural communities,” Dr McPhee says.