ACRRM says the Federal Government’s newly released General Practitioner (GP) Supply and Demand Study confirms the need to urgently grow the Rural Generalist (RG) and rural GP workforce in Australia.
ACRRM President Dr Dan Halliday says the report underscores the pressing requirement to reset national policies to incentivise a medical workforce that can provide continuous and integrated healthcare in rural, remote and First Nations communities.
“The implications of a GP shortage are more impactful for people living outside the urban footprint,” Dr Halliday stresses.
“The report indicates that to address projected unmet needs, we currently require an additional 2,400 FTE GPs across the country, and by 2028 that number will need to increase to 3,900.
“It does not provide a breakdown of the maldistribution issues by rurality classification or measure the supply or scope of Rural Generalists within the GP workforce.
"While it is disappointing that we are unable to immediately recognise the shortfall in our most vulnerable rural and remote populations, ACRRM has been assured that more localised data is available to appropriately target training and workforce opportunities where needed most.
“ACRRM has been advocating to restore the value proposition of rural general practice, by redirecting health funding towards comprehensive primary care and addressing barriers to rural and remote training and practice.
“This year, we commenced 350 registrars on our training program, highlighting there is a real interest in rural generalism.
“We are advocating for an increase to 500 registrars in the short term, with further expansion over coming years.
“We also need to keep these aspiring Rural Generalists where they are vitally required by implementing blended funded models which consider the distinctions of rural and remote practice, and improvement payments and incentives for rural practice,” Dr Halliday says.
For more information on ACRRM’s policy priority to restore the value proposition of rural general practice, click here.
ENDS