August 29, 2012
The classification system used in the incentive scheme to attract GPs to regional areas should be replaced according to a Senate committee report.
The report conducted by the Senate Community Affairs committee investigated the factors affecting the supply of health services and medical professionals in rural areas.
Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester, who has been actively campaigning for additional government funding and an improved system to attract and retain the rural health workforce, has welcomed the report.
Mr Chester said the recommendations of the report confirmed the flaws in the current system and he has called on the government to conduct a complete overhaul.
“It is time for the Gillard Government to accept that its policies aren’t getting the outcomes needed in regional areas,” Mr Chester said.
“The government can start to fix the problem by implementing the recommendations of the report without delay.”
Mr Chester said the government should pay particular attention to recommendation eight of the report which stated:
‘…the classification systems currently used for workforce incentives purposes be replaced with a scheme that takes account of regularly updated geographical, population, workforce, professional and social data to classify areas where recruitment and retention incentives are required.’
Currently, a doctor who moves from Melbourne to an area classed as ‘inner regional’ under the Rural, Remote and Metropolitan Areas (RRMA) classification system receives a $15,000 payment over two years.
In Gippsland, towns like Maffra, Heyfield, Rosedale and Yarram are all classed as ‘inner regional’. However, so is the Tasmanian capital city of Hobart.
“The system to entice doctors to work in regional areas is deeply flawed and isn’t solving the shortage in the rural health workforce,” Mr Chester said.
“There is not enough incentive for doctors from Melbourne to move out into smaller regional communities where it can be difficult to attract and retain the medical workforce.”
The report also recommended that the current after-hours funding arrangements be maintained; enhanced locum support for clinical teaching; and better coordination of allied health services.