ACRRM President Dr Rod Martin.
With the federal election now set for 3 May, healthcare is a key issue for voters, the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) is urging all political parties to prioritise the needs of rural, remote, and First Nations communities.
More than seven million people living in rural and remote areas face significant barriers to healthcare, including geographic isolation, limited infrastructure, and the higher costs of delivering services in these regions.
ACRRM President Dr Rod Martin asserts that every community, no matter how remote, has an undeniable right to access high-quality healthcare without the barrier of cost.
“There is a $6.5 billion annual underspend on healthcare in rural and remote communities, and that’s unacceptable. This chronic underfunding directly impacts the health and wellbeing of people outside major cities, but there are solutions available.”
Dr Martin says ACRRM has welcomed major parties’ commitments to bulk billing and medical training but is calling for further detail and a stronger focus on rural, remote and First Nations healthcare.
“Without targeted investment, rural, remote, and First Nations communities will continue to experience critical healthcare shortages.
For more information: accrm.org.au