Doctors working in regional, rural, and remote Australia are encouraged to take part in the AMA Rural Health Issues Survey 2019 to help shape rural health policy ahead of the upcoming Federal Election.
"Improving access to doctors for people who live in rural and regional areas must be a key priority for all political parties," AMA President, Dr Tony Bartone, said today.
"The AMA wants to hear from all doctors working in regional, rural, and remote Australia about how to support better medical care for rural communities.
"We know that people who live in rural communities can have poor access to medical services, and experience poorer health outcomes than people living in cities.
"We want to support doctors already living in these areas, and encourage other doctors to take up careers in rural medicine.
"Doctors who serve rural communities face unique challenges and have different experiences to doctors practising in metropolitan areas.
"The top three concerns of rural doctors in the 2016 survey were the need for extra funding and resources to recruit and retain doctors in the bush, access to fast, reliable broadband, and investment in hospital and practice infrastructure.
"Doctors were loud and clear about the need for funding and resources to support improved staffing levels and workable rosters for rural doctors, and better access to locum relief.
"I encourage all doctors working in regional, rural, and remote Australia to take part in the Survey."
The 2016 results helped the AMA advocate for the effective establishment and implementation of Government programs including Regional Training Networks, the National Rural Generalist Pathway and the More Doctors for Rural Australia Program (MDRAP), the Modified Monash Model (MMM), and reform to the Bonded Medical Places (BMP) program.
The Survey will be open until 31 March. Any doctors who have not yet received an invitation to complete the survey and feel that they should have can contact Nicholas Elmitt at [email protected]
