Rural and urban disparities
January 17, 2012
PRESSURE is being ramped up on
the Government to address the
health disparities between rural,
remote and urban communities,
with the The Royal Australian
College of General Practitioners
National Rural Faculty submission
to the Senate Community Affairs
Committee Inquiry.
In its paper, the NRF calls on the
Government to address the entire
range of essential requirements
specific to rural and remote
communities, from workforce
shortages to gaps in resources and
services.
According to NRF Chairperson, Dr
Kathryn Kirkpatrick, the
Government must move to foster
rural innovation, improve high
quality healthcare for all Australians,
and look at ways to reduce
duplication and gaps in the system.
“This Inquiry, together with the
work of Health Workforce Australia
in its recent reform effort, finally
brings to focus the workforce
supply issues that have plagued
rural health for years and which
have led to significant urban/rural
health disparities,” said Kirkpatrick.
“Perhaps one of the most
important elements to rural health
reform is redefining the way in
which gaps in services and
resources are identified.
“A national approach in
determining local health needs and
workforce shortage will be
imperative to the success of the
reform effort,” she added.
Speaking about issues key to the
success of a more responsive and
better coordinated health system,
Kirkpatrick outlined the importance
of securing a rural workforce with
advanced skills across a range of
disciplines, and the need for further
investment in rurally oriented
medical training and rural experience.
“To ensure quality training, strong
rural curriculum and increased
clinical attachments, matched with
additional support structures must
be provided,” she said.
Kirkpatrick also urged the
Government to develop a national
policy towards workplace reform,
and to limit the capacity of the
states to create divisions through
local workforce programs.
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