ACRRM pre-budget submission calls for funding to urgently improve rural and remote healthcare

The Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) has lodged its pre-budget submission, calling on the government to include specific investments to improve healthcare for rural and remote and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across Australia. 

The submission identifies reform of primary health care and general practice funding models; prevocational and general practice training; and the National Rural Generalist Pathway, as areas in which both urgent and longer-term investments are required.   

ACRRM President Dr Sarah Chalmers says we can turn around the inequity of healthcare access that rural and remote Australians continue to experience, but this requires smart rural-specific solutions and targeted investment, and it needs to happen now. 

“With the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic adding to the existing challenges, we need both an immediate response and longer-term initiatives to stem the loss of healthcare staff and resources across rural and remote Australia,” Dr Chalmers says. 

“We know that in rural and remote areas, costs of resources, staff, training, and locum support, are higher than in urban areas, but the ability to recoup these costs is generally more limited.  

“These factors should be acknowledged through incentives and higher rebates for doctors working in rural and remote areas. 

“Rural Generalists in regional, rural, and remote areas also have more responsibilities, and deal with more complex cases and higher rates of chronic disease. This has been recognised through the introduction of a rural bulk billing incentive, but more can be done.  

“Rural Medical Benefit Scheme (MBS) rebates and incentives should be expanded, with the quantum of payments increasing with remoteness, and funding models outside the MBS should be implemented to support high-quality and sustainable care.” 

“COVID-19 has renewed Australian’s interest in rural lifestyles and there is a huge opportunity for smart rural-specific policy solutions to restore broken rural healthcare services.  

The College is also calling for continued funding to progress the implementation of the National Rural Generalist Pathway and to support Rural Generalist programs across all states and territories. 

“As a College focused on training and supporting Rural Generalists who have the specialised skills needed to provide healthcare to those outside the urban footprint, we strongly believe ACRRM should receive increased funding to build the workforce required across the nation. 

“We also call for ongoing and increased funding to close the gap on the inequities of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander healthcare, including access to culturally safe and responsive health care, and more opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to take up a career in rural and remote general practice. 

“With appropriate funding, the College vision for skilled doctors in thriving rural practices and facilities, providing excellent healthcare to rural and remote people, is attainable.

The submission can be viewed here.