DELIVERING BETTER ACCESS TO DOCTORS ACROSS REGIONAL AUSTRALIA

Federal Member for Barker, Tony Pasin has welcomed the announcement today of a $62.2 million 2019-20 Budget investment over four years to fast track the National Rural Generalist Pathway program.

“Access to GPs is an issue that has been raised at my community meetings around Barker so any measure to assist in getting more GPs into regional areas is very much welcomed,” 

“We have the GPs but it’s a matter of how that workforce is distributed,” Mr Pasin said.

“The government is investing in pathways to get more doctors into regional communities.”

“Rural generalists play a key role providing rural and remote Australians access health services by providing general practice, emergency care and other specialist services in hospitals and in the community.

“More rural generalists in rural and remote areas means better access to services and better health outcomes for these communities.”

Mr Pasin said that the funding will help see more doctors in local communities, providing greater access to quality health services when needed the most.

The program will fund initiatives such as coordinated training for rural generalists, expansion of the Rural Junior Doctor Training Innovation Fund to provide more early exposure to rural training and seeking sub-specialty recognition of rural generalism through the Medical Board of Australia.

“This announcement will help deliver more rural generalists into rural and regional areas that will address some of the inequities that those communities face in terms of getting access to a doctor,” Mr Pasin said.

“As part of the Morrison Government, I am proud that we are fulfilling our 2016 election commitment to deliver a pathway and start implementing reforms recommended by the National Rural Health Commissioner Professor Paul Worley.”

Professor Paul Worley formed the National Rural Generalist Pathway Taskforce which appointed working groups and expert reference groups to help develop the pathway.

The taskforce presented its advice to the Rural Health Commissioner on 21 December 2018 with 19 recommendations.

Today’s announcement builds on the Morrison Government’s commitment to redress the provision of health services in Australia.

Media Contact: Charlotte Edmunds 8531 2466