Media Release
9 December 2009
Delays in reform ‘blueprint’ put rural health at risk
People in rural and remote areas are concerned that specific improvements in rural and remote
health might be put on hold pending agreement by the Commonwealth and States about their
respective roles and responsibilities in the wider reform picture.
“It is vital that initiatives already agreed as important for better rural and remote health are not
held up by governments’ failure to agree on a ‘blueprint’ for major health reform,” said Dr
Jenny May, Chair of the National Rural Health Alliance.
It is also of concern that such a blueprint continues to be characterised in the media as ‘a
Commonwealth takeover’ – a phrase that oversimplifies the issues and seems to run counter
to the need for regional and local decision making.
The Minister has referred to the health system reaching ‘a tipping point’. The Alliance
believes that point has already been reached in rural and remote areas. This makes it
imperative that further improvements targeted to rural and remote areas be included in the
Federal Budget in May 2010.
“There are many necessary changes that can be implemented now that are not dependent on
overall Commonwealth-State agreement and these should not be held up while a national
reform blueprint is being developed,” Dr May said.
“These should include extra investment in attracting professionals from all disciplines to the
rural and remote health workforce, as well as supporting and retaining those already there.
The Commonwealth must also take the lead and invest with the States and Territories in
improving Patients’ Assisted Travel Schemes. Work to quantify the total rural and remote
health deficit should also begin in earnest as a basis for moving soon to make equivalence
payments to under-serviced areas."
A welcome measure announced at this week’s COAG meeting in Brisbane was the promise to
further develop a national e-health system, with commitment to the introduction of national
health care identifiers in 2010 - prerequisites for a patient-controlled electronic health record.
“Electronic health records are especially vital for people from rural and remote areas because
such people are required to seek health services both locally and in other centres. This
initiative must remain on track,” said Dr May.
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While the promise of additional resources from the Commonwealth for elective surgery is
welcome, the main concern in rural areas is about potential closure of smaller hospitals. Rural
people are entitled to expect specific investment in hospitals in medium-sized towns, not just
to provide local services but also so they can act as outreach service hubs to smaller centres
for integrated acute, primary and aged care.
“People in rural and remote areas are looking forward to the benefits that will accrue from the
national reform blueprint,” Dr May said. "But at the same time, much of what needs to be
done to improve rural and remote health services is plain to all and should not be postponed."
Contacts
Dr Jenny May - Chair: 0427 885 337
Marshall Wilson - Media: 0419 664 155
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