The Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) has noted the strong package offered to support access to safe and affordable medical care in rural and remote Australia in this 2018 budget.

ACRRM President Associate Professor Ruth Stewart said: “This package addresses each step in the training pathway that produces doctors with the confidence and competence to be a pivotal part of the health care team in rural and remote communities.

"Each item shouldn’t be taken in isolation; instead, it should be viewed as part of the larger package that will strengthen this country’s health services."

The College is broadly supportive of the changes in legislation and funding signalled in this budget.

"These items aim to set Australia on a path to a future where rural and remote community members will know that the doctors who care for them are trained to the highest standards," she said.

"In addition, these doctors will know how to provide that care in remote and rural locations. They will be trained to work in small Primary Health Care Centres, small and medium sized private General Practices, in Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations, and remote and regional hospitals."

The College supports a commitment to increase opportunities for junior doctors who want to try rural practice.

"Increasing the opportunities for junior doctors to work in the community under supervision is a welcome change and should give junior doctors a good “taste and see” experience," said A/Prof Stewart.

We are also very pleased to see that this budget strengthens incentives for doctors living and working in underserved areas of Australia to undertake and complete training for General Practice.

"Australians should have access to first rate health care wherever they live. We look forward to supporting more doctors to train for rural and remote practice and are delighted to hear Minister McKenzie’s assurances of resource support for the National Rural Generalist Program," said A/Prof Stewart.

"We know that equipping doctors with the skills and experience to work rurally increases the recruitment and retention of doctors in rural and remote communities. 74% of doctors with a Fellowship of ACRRM are still working in rural and remote communities 5 years after Fellowing[1].

"It is really important for Australia to address our responsibilities to our rural and remote communities and to the international community.

"For the past twenty odd years, International Medical Graduates arriving in Australia have been mandated to go to rural and remote communities to provide the care that these communities need.

"They continue to be a very important part of our health teams and should be thanked and recognised as such, but Australia should no longer be draining doctors from developing countries to meet our needs when their need is greater.

"We are graduating more doctors than ever before. We need to address the current maldistribution and ensure that Australian Graduate doctors are supported to go where they are most needed - our rural and remote communities."

Some of the highlights of this budget for the College and its members are the items that will help recruit and retain the right health care professionals, with the right training, to rural and remote communities.

"The changes to legislation for rural bonded medical education programs will benefit rural communities and give equity and reassurance to doctors in training," said A/Prof Stewart.

"In addition, bulk billing incentives will now be focused on areas where the need in health care outcomes, in socio economic status, and in access to health care is greatest.

"It's the combination of these items, and many others in this budget that will see us start to shape the future of rural and remote health."

The College will be taking time in the coming days to consider the finer details of the whole budget, and will release subsequent statements regarding items of importance.