With the federal election now underway and healthcare a key issue for voters, the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) is urging all political parties to prioritise the needs of rural, remote, and First Nations communities. 

More than seven million people living in rural and remote areas face significant barriers to healthcare, including geographic isolation, limited infrastructure, and the higher costs of delivering services in these regions. 

ACRRM President Dr Rod Martin asserts that every community, no matter how remote, has an undeniable right to access high-quality healthcare without the barrier of cost. 

“There is a $6.5 billion annual underspend on healthcare in rural and remote communities, and that’s unacceptable. 

“This chronic underfunding directly impacts the health and wellbeing of people outside major cities, but there are solutions available.” 

Dr Martin says ACRRM has welcomed major parties’ commitments to bulk billing and medical training but is calling for further detail and a stronger focus on rural, remote and First Nations healthcare. 

ACRRM has outlined critical investments needed to build a sustainable healthcare workforce and improve service delivery in these underserved areas. 

Strengthening the Rural Generalist (RG) Pathway: 

  • Invest $100 million over four years to expand the RG pathway, increasing training positions to at least 500 registrars annually. 
  • Provide $30 million per year to support prevocational training in rural communities, ensuring a smooth transition for medical graduates into Rural Generalist and General Practitioner careers. 

Secure and Sustain Rural Women’s Health Services: 

  • Take immediate action to prevent the closure of rural maternity services and ensure expectant mothers in rural and remote areas have access to essential care. 
  • Incentivise the rural maternity workforce including RGs skilled in obstetrics and anaesthetics. 

Use RG Recognition to address the rural deficit in funded health services: 

  • Introduce specific Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) items to acknowledge the unique skill set of Rural Generalists and ensure appropriate remuneration for the services they provide. 
  • Fund a national campaign raising awareness of RG and its potential to address healthcare challenges in rural, remote and First Nations communities across Australia. 

Retain and incentivise the RG workforce:

  • Rural health service providers infrastructure support funding to ensure communities have key infrastructure such as accommodation to enable positive experiences for rural healthcare professionals and their families. 
  • Recognise and remunerate the senior clinical advisory services of experience rural and remote doctors. 

Dr Martin emphasises the urgency of these measures. 

"Without targeted investment, rural, remote, and First Nations communities will continue to experience critical healthcare shortages.  

“We urge all political parties to commit to these recommendations to ensure equitable healthcare for all Australians, no matter their postcode," he says. 

As the election campaign progresses, ACRRM stands ready to collaborate with policymakers to implement these initiatives and build a stronger, more sustainable healthcare system for all communities—no matter where they live.