Equity in rural health access
July 2, 2010
THE Government’s new rural
living incentive scheme for doctors,
must be extended to pharmacists,
according to the Pharmaceutical
Society of Australia.
Announced this week, the
incentive payment scheme will see
doctors who move to rural and
remote communities provided with
monetary bonuses of around
$120,000 as well as a series of tax
concessions.
Whilst beneficial, this plan
according to PSA national
president Warwick Plunkett is just
one step in the process towards
bringing rural and remote
communities equity and access to
healthcare services.
“The Government must extend
the range of its incentive programs
and tax concessions to other health
professionals like pharmacists who
are also critical to the health needs
of rural populations,” Plunkett said.
“Doctors cannot be expected to
meet the needs of these people by
themselves.
“They need the services of other
allied health professionals to
complement and support the work
they do,” he added.
The PSA has argued the current
moves towards a multidisciplinary
healthcare focus are at odds with
the new doctor-centric incentive
scheme.
“At present, pharmacists are
catered for through the Rural
Pharmacy Maintenance Allowance
which, while a very positive and
effective program, falls short of the
incentives being offered to
doctors,” Plunkett said.
“The Government is taking an
approach which is not consistent
with health reform to promote
collaboration between health
professionals,” he added.
As part of its argument, the PSA
is now urging a full review of the
government’s incentive scheme
system, in order to expand its
motivational reach beyond doctors
to ensure that patients in rural and
remote areas “receive optimal care
and better health outcomes”.
For more details- www.psa.gov.au.
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