Rural health matters this election!

A chorus of concern over the major parties’ failure to focus on rural health issues in the election campaign is growing, the National Rural Health Alliance says.

A report out today showing higher levels of risky drinking in country areas compared with cities illustrates why political parties claiming to care for rural Australia must spell out what they are offering on rural health this election, the National Rural Health Alliance says.

The National Rural Health Alliance is dismayed at the lack of focus on rural health issues in the election debate on health at the National Press Club.

“It’s fair to say that the health needs of over 7 million people were totally ignored in this debate,” National Rural Health Alliance CEO Mark Diamond said.

The National Rural Health Alliance launched its 2019 Election Charter:  Rural Health Matters! in Parliament House this morning.

Tanya Lehmann highlighted the need for policy planners to understand that the normal market models for supplying services did not apply in rural areas. "There is no market out there so we have to collaborate in our regions to make it viable for health services and health professionals to go rural. That needs government support."

Alliance CEO Mark Diamond highlighted the growing gap in health outcomes for Indigenous Australians in rural areas. Indigenous rates of cancer deaths grew by 21 per cent in the 17 years to 2015 but fell by 13 per cent for non-Indigenous people. "We are going backwards, not forwards."

Regional Australia Institute Co-CEO Kim Houghton said that in all rural communities Australia-wide, health occupations topped the number of internet-listed job vacancies and that an additional 85,000 health jobs will be created across non-metropolitan Australia in the next five years. He welcomed the NRHA's push for getting allied health professionals into rural areas.

Services for Australian Rural and Remote Allied Health Interim CEO Cath Maloney said it was time to fund allied health professionals into rural areas. "We can do this the same way as we have done for doctors. We know it works."

The National Rural Health Alliance has welcomed the ALP’s announcement of a $2.4 billion Pensioner Dental Plan – providing access to free dental oral health care to 3 million older Australians.

Alliance CEO, Mark Diamond, said the move would provide relief to older people in rural communities who did not have access to such services.

The NRHA welcomes Labor’s planned $33 million attack on eradicating rheumatic heart disease, and its promise to give Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations a bigger role in delivering culturally appropriate primary healthcare services.