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Two significant documents have been released by the Federal government over the past week - the Interim Report released by The Senate Inquiry into the Provision of general practitioner and related primary health services to outer metropolitan, rural and regional Australians, and The Primary Health Care 10-year Plan.
The Interim Report
The Interim Report extensively incorporates the testimony and advocacy provided to the Inquiry by the College. It also singles out ACRRM for special commendation for its contribution to building the rural medical workforce and its strong track record in training rural doctors who remain in rural areas as College Fellows:
“....ACRRM has a strong track record of training rural GPs and retention of those GPs in rural. ACRRM told the committee that approximately 80 per cent of their Fellows continue to practise rurally and over the past 15 years, of over 900 doctors who have received Fellowship with the ACRRM, 75 per cent have remained in rural practice five or more years post‑Fellowship.”
The College welcomes the comments made in the Report regarding the extent of the rural health workforce crisis and the need for significant increases to MBS rebates for general practice and reform to funding arrangements for primary care. We will continue to advocate for improved rebates and also for targeted differential payments and incentives for rural and remote doctors and practices.
The report also recommends a number of further inquiries and investigations. While these are important, the College makes it clear that urgent action is also required to address the viability and sustainability of rural and remote practice.
Read the College submission here.
The Primary Health Care 10-year Plan
The Primary Health Care 10-year Plan aims to strengthen primary health and provide an agenda for primary health care reform. While ACRRM recognises and supports the need for reform, it must be supported by adequate funding and combined with immediate action to address the current funding discrepancies for primary care.
The College is disappointed that despite our strong advocacy, the Plan does not recognise that if rural and remote people are to receive the care that they need and deserve, the provision of primary care in rural and remote areas must involve a broad, outcomes-focussed definition that includes the Rural Generalist scope of practice. There are also a number of other areas where further detailed policy work will be required to secure optimal outcomes for rural and remote communities and practitioners. These include telehealth and Voluntary Patient Registration. The College will be part of the implementation process for the Plan and will continue to advocate for the best possible outcomes for rural communities
Read the College submission to the draft Plan here.
ACRRM will continue to fully engage with both these processes to represent the interests of our members and the communities in which they live and work.
All news
Two significant documents have been released by the Federal government over the past week - the Interim Report released by The Senate Inquiry into the Provision of general practitioner and related primary health services to outer metropolitan, rural and regional Australians, and The Primary Health Care 10-year Plan.
The Interim Report
The Interim Report extensively incorporates the testimony and advocacy provided to the Inquiry by the College. It also singles out ACRRM for special commendation for its contribution to building the rural medical workforce and its strong track record in training rural doctors who remain in rural areas as College Fellows:
“....ACRRM has a strong track record of training rural GPs and retention of those GPs in rural. ACRRM told the committee that approximately 80 per cent of their Fellows continue to practise rurally and over the past 15 years, of over 900 doctors who have received Fellowship with the ACRRM, 75 per cent have remained in rural practice five or more years post‑Fellowship.”
The College welcomes the comments made in the Report regarding the extent of the rural health workforce crisis and the need for significant increases to MBS rebates for general practice and reform to funding arrangements for primary care. We will continue to advocate for improved rebates and also for targeted differential payments and incentives for rural and remote doctors and practices.
The report also recommends a number of further inquiries and investigations. While these are important, the College makes it clear that urgent action is also required to address the viability and sustainability of rural and remote practice.
Read the College submission here.
The Primary Health Care 10-year Plan
The Primary Health Care 10-year Plan aims to strengthen primary health and provide an agenda for primary health care reform. While ACRRM recognises and supports the need for reform, it must be supported by adequate funding and combined with immediate action to address the current funding discrepancies for primary care.
The College is disappointed that despite our strong advocacy, the Plan does not recognise that if rural and remote people are to receive the care that they need and deserve, the provision of primary care in rural and remote areas must involve a broad, outcomes-focussed definition that includes the Rural Generalist scope of practice. There are also a number of other areas where further detailed policy work will be required to secure optimal outcomes for rural and remote communities and practitioners. These include telehealth and Voluntary Patient Registration. The College will be part of the implementation process for the Plan and will continue to advocate for the best possible outcomes for rural communities
Read the College submission to the draft Plan here.
ACRRM will continue to fully engage with both these processes to represent the interests of our members and the communities in which they live and work.