Health workforce report will help rural, remote communities
23 January 2006
The Australian Local Government Association has today welcomed the release of the Productivity Commission report on the nation's health workforce, saying it's recommendations would help counter shortages of health professionals that have bedevilled communities for decades, particularly in outer metropolitan, regional and remote communities.
"Local government has long advocated strong measures to counter the often severe shortages of medical and other health professionals confronting many communities," ALGA President, Cr Paul Bell, said today.
"Many Australian councils have been forced to step in and purchase medical practices, provide housing for doctors and even take over entire hosptials in order to prevent the loss of medical services in rural communities.
"I welcome the thrust of today's report, particularly proposals that will support local innovation, secure more responsive health education and training arrangements and extend Medicare coverage beyond the medical profession.
"Establishing a task force to achieve greater transparency and approprraite contestability of funding for clincial training and the introduction of national registration standards for health professions, also make a lot of sense.
"The health work force planning arrangements that have prevailed over the past decade or so have clearly failed to meet the needs of Australians. Radical changes to the way we manage our health workforce is critical if we are to improve access to health care. These changes are also needed to help ease the pressure on the doctors, nurses and other health professionals who work so hard to meet the needs of Australians in rural and regional areas.
"ALGA will digest this very significant report over the next few weeks. We look forward to discussing it with other members of the Council of Australian Governments when we meet in Canberra next month," Cr Bell said.
- Contact:
- Cr Paul Bell AM, ALGA President - 0418 791 596
- Rohan Greenland, ALGA Public Affairs - 0412 85 9434 / 02 6122 9434
