RDAA president Doctor Nola Maxfield warned a failure to take action would severely compromise the ability of many communities to attract and retain doctors.

“As Australia gets closer to election day, the forthcoming budget provides a critical opportunity for the Federal Government to put its stamp on rural health care,” she said.

“We really hope this year’s Federal budget provides the significant investment that is so badly needed for rural health care rather than simply paying lip service to the problem.”

Dr Maxfield said the RDAA welcomed some additional funding for rural health care during the past few years but it was far short of the investment required to resolve the critical shortage of rural doctors across Australia.

In a budget submission lodged on January 29 the RDAA urged the Government to introduce a Rural Rescue Package to keep more doctors in the bush.

Dr Maxfield said the package would include a Rural Isolation Pay-ment to all rural doctors to reflect the isolation associated with running and attending a rural practice.

In the submission the RDAA also called for free health care and public education for overseas trained doctors and their families.

“Currently overseas trained doctors, their spouses and children are not entitled to free health care through Medicare and in most states they cannot access free public education,” she said.