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$100m extra for rural hospitals
24 Mar 2004
Country hospitals would be given an additional $100 million in funding under a rural health wishlist put together by key interest groups, including the National Farmers' Federation and the Rural Doctors' Association. The 10-point plan, called "Good Health to the Bush", recommends a complete overhaul of the rural health system. It claims there's a rural underspend estimated at $100 million, which it says should be redirected to maintain hospitals in the bush.
The plan also demands compensation for rural areas and says there's a shortfall in Medicare rebates of over $200 million a year. In addition, an extra $3 million is needed to get specialist doctors to the bush; a $10 million scholarship program to attract medical students to remote areas; and better access to broadband Internet services.
The report states that people living in rural areas are more likely to die from health complications and have a four-year lower life expectancy than city dwellers.
The Advertiser, 24/3/04, page 9.
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