Remote doctors scheme replaced
The Federal Government has confirmed it will be scrapping the current classification system which allows rural towns to recruit and retain doctors.
The Australian Standard Geographical Classification — Remoteness Area system determines what incentives are available to attract doctors to the region.
Regional towns are classified based on their remoteness from the nearest urban centre, with more remote locations having access to greater incentives.
However the system has been criticised for considering large and well-serviced regional cities as more remote than some rural towns.
Idiosyncrasies in the system resulted in Kalgoorlie-Boulder classified as more remote than Rottnest Island.
In February, Australian Medical Association president Dr Steve Hambleton said changes to the remoteness classification system were “long overdue”.
Assistant Minister for Health Fiona Nash said this week the government was committed to replacing the system with the Modified Monash Model.
The Monash Model, which is favoured by the AMA and the Rural Doctors Association of Australia, is an alternative method which takes into account population and other factors in its classification.
Ms Nash said the new system would bring balance to the spread of doctors throughout regional Australia.
“When it comes to improving rural health outcomes, I don’t think governments should ever underestimate the importance of making sure we get the right doctors, with the right skills in the places where they are needed most, ” she said.
