From 1 January 2022, there will be automatic access to the Distribution
Priority Area (DPA) classification for regional and larger rural towns
(MMM 3-4), to make it easier for areas to recruit more doctors.
The DPA classification identifies locations in Australia with a
shortage of doctors. Currently, only rural and remote (MMM 5-7)
communities receive automatic DPA status, with other MMM locations
having to be assessed annually to see whether the health services for
the population meet a service benchmark.
If access is under the
benchmark, a town is classified as a DPA and clinics in that area can
employ doctors subject to a moratorium, such as those who have trained
overseas.
Students who have accepted a Commonwealth Supported
Place in an Australian medical course in return for a commitment to work
in a regional, rural and remote area at the end of their studies must
also work in a DPA.
Federal Regional Health Minister, Dr David
Gillespie said this change would provide a real difference to patients
across country Australia.
“Short term, this means that
practices can begin reaching out to overseas doctors who want to move to
the regions and practise there,” Dr Gillespie said.
“This
change begins from 1 January 2022, and I know that regional and rural
practices will be working hard to take full advantage of this
significant change.”
Dr Gillespie said the DPA expansion would mean more regional and rural communities would have access to a GP in the short term.
“More rural and regional areas will be able to utilise the DPA system
when recruiting doctors for their region, whether they be those who are
wanting to move here from overseas or young doctors who have accepted a
place in return for working in a regional area,” Dr Gillespie said.
“This change will help ensure rural and regional areas have a choice of
more doctors to work in their local communities, leading to increased
access to GP and primary care services for many thousands of Australians
in regional and rural communities.”
The Morrison Joyce
Government will also invest in a significant incentive for eligible
doctors and nurse practitioners to practice in rural, remote or very
remote areas of Australia, by eliminating all or part of their Higher
Education Loan Programme (HELP) debt subject to meeting eligibility
criteria.
Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt said the
Government is acutely aware of the maldistribution of health workforce
around the country and is implementing a range of policies to get more
GPs, nurses and allied health professionals to areas where they are
needed.
“This is just another measure that our government is using to attract more GPs to regional areas,” Minister Hunt said.
“Incentivising doctors and nurse practitioners to live and work outside
of metropolitan areas will help improve access to quality health care
for regional, rural and remote communities.”
“This new
initiative shows that our government is serious about supporting doctors
who genuinely commit to practise in regional, rural and remote towns,
which offers continuity of care, instead of having an over-reliance on
locums,” Dr Gillespie said.
“That’s why we have committed to a
number of immediate initiatives to reward doctors and nurse
practitioners for working in regional, rural and remote Australia.
“The Morrison Joyce Government is focused on delivering better
outcomes, reducing access barriers and creating a flexible system that
works for all Australians, regardless of where they live.
“This
announcement continues to build on our Government’s Stronger Rural
Health Strategy and our longstanding efforts to grow our own rural GP
and medical workforce,” Dr Gillespie said.
