Rural doctor numbers: Productivity Commission statistics cannot hide the problem
AMA President, Dr Kerryn Phelps, said today that critical shortages of doctors and medical services in rural and regional communities should not be glossed over by statistics produced by the Productivity Commission.
Dr Phelps said the AMA's response to the rural doctor crisis would continue to be based on factual information coming out of rural communities from patients, doctors and other health professionals.
"I'll be guided by pleas for help from disadvantaged communities," Dr Phelps said.
"While a supposed 4.3 per cent improvement across the board is a move in the right direction, it is largely constituted by temporary resident doctors (TRDs) and overseas graduates.
"The fact of the matter is that there are many towns and communities in all States that have no doctors or doctors who have to cover huge areas on their own," Dr Phelps said.
Studies by the Victorian Department of Health show that the health of rural people is slipping behind urban Australians.
Initial results from a major review of the GP workforce by the AMA and Access Economics indicate a shortage of hundreds of GPs in both rural and outer-suburban Australia.
"Long waiting lists, overworked doctors, inadequate facilities, and communities desperate to attract and retain doctors are, unfortunately, commonplace," Dr Phelps said.
"More and more communities, some close to major cities, are seeking 'areas of need' status so they can attract TRDs - a program originally designed for truly remote areas.
"The AMA will be briefing the Government on the AMA/Access Economics analysis in the near future.
"In the meantime it is premature, to say the least, to claim that the battle to give country people adequate health services is being won.
"The Productivity Commission statistics fail to acknowledge any of the human dimension of the rural doctor shortage crisis - for the doctors, the patients or the whole communities.
"I am sure that most MPs and Senators with rural constituencies will arrive in Canberra for Parliament next month with health issues still ringing in their ears.
"The AMA will work with the Government to ensure the health needs of rural and regional Australia remain prominent in the political landscape.
"It is time for our decision makers to look beyond the raw numbers to find solutions because the problem is spreading across regional Australia and creeping into the outer-suburban areas of our cities as well.
"The solutions will not lie in any form of coercion for doctors to work in rural areas.
"This approach was tried in the teaching profession and failed.
"Rather, a concerted effort to address the fundamental reasons for the shortages and encourage medical students and doctors through incentives will provide long-term solutions for Australia's rural communities," Dr Phelps said.
CONTACT: John Flannery (02) 6270 5477 / (0419) 494 761
Sarah Crichton (02) 6270 5472 / (0419) 440 076