As Australia continues to modernise digitisation in specific healthcare contexts, the issue of health equity has extended to digital environments which are enabled through telecommunications services. Thus, regional telecommunication is an important enabler of equity in healthcare in rural Australia.
In the Australian primary healthcare context, access to services is supported by digital health initiatives such as telehealth, electronic prescriptions and My Health Record, which all rely on good-quality mobile network and broadband connectivity. Telehealth, in particular, is a key initiative which enables the patient to access vital medical services where there are no local health services available, where in-person consultation is not feasible, or in conjunction with in-person healthcare. The ability to access telecommunications services, therefore, has a direct impact on the wellbeing of people living in rural areas, particularly where access is poor.