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Access to medical practitioners improved under Howard government

The latest data released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) shows that Federal Government initiatives to attract and retain doctors are working.

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27 June 2003

Access to medical practitioners improved under Howard government

The latest data released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) shows that Federal Government initiatives to attract and retain doctors are working.

The Federal Minister for Health and Ageing, Senator Kay Patterson, said that the AIHW's Medical Labour Force 2000 found that the medical labour force is increasing at a rate faster than population growth. The supply of medical practitioners has grown by more than 8 percent between 1995 and 2000.

"It is pleasing to note is that the average hours of work have decreased overall since 1995 which reflects a trend for doctors to balance family and work commitments, which I support," Senator Patterson said.

"As an acknowledgment of these trends, the Government has been active in the support of doctors working in rural and remote Australia to ensure we retain this expertise and commitment."

Howard Government programs and initiatives aimed at addressing the imbalance in the workforce have resulted in medical practitioners returning to rural areas for the first time. The supply of GPs increased by 4.7 percent between 2000-01 and 2001-02 and by 11.4 percent over the past 5 years.

Under the Howard Government's A Fairer Medicare package, an additional 150 general practice training places and an additional 234 publicly funded bonded medical school places will be provided from 2004.

"These places will be targeted to areas of workforce shortage, particularly outer metropolitan and rural areas," Senator Patterson said. "In addition the package also provides funding for around 800 practices to employ practice nurses which will free up valuable time and allow doctors to better meet their patients' needs."

The Government has spent more than $560 million on strategies to increase the provision of GP services for Australians living in rural and regional areas. This includes programs such as the Rural Australia Medical Undergraduate Scholarship and the HECS Reimbursement Schemes.

For further information on the Government's rural health initiatives go to www.ruralhealth.gov.au or call 1800 020 787

Media contact:
Randal Markey, Media Adviser, Senator Patterson 02 6277 7220