Rural GP pathway key for health

THE Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) has called for unequivocal support for recognition and implementation of the National Rural Generalist Pathway as a key priority for the upcoming federal budget and election.

Announcing the release of the College Budget and Election Statement, ACRRM president Dr Ewan McPhee said immediate action should be taken to formally recognise rural generalism as a specialised field within general practice.

“ACRRM calls on all political parties to endorse the professional recognition of the rural generalist and commit funding to progress the accreditation process through the Australian Medical Council, on behalf of rural and remote Australians,” Dr McPhee said.

“Formal recognition of rural generalism is the first step to removing the bureaucratic roadblocks to rural patients receiving the services they need from doctors who are trained, recognised and resourced to provide them.

“Building a strong workforce of doctors trained and recognised as experts to meet rural people’s medical needs is critical to improving health outcomes.

“A process of formal recognition of their field of practice is a necessary step forward,” Dr McPhee said.

“Rural generalists are trained to provide skills across a broad scope on the understanding that their patients do not have access to many specialised services including emergency care, obstetrics and mental health.

“In recognising rural generalism as a specialised field we will enable these rural doctors to receive the full scope of training and recognition they need to best serve rural and remote communities and enable the regulatory systems to recognise, support and resource their practice across their full skill set.”