WIMMERA towns looking to attract and retain doctors have received a boost after the federal government increased incentives for doctors to work in rural areas.
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The amended GP Rural Incentives Program will start on July 1.
The program will provide $23,000 – up from $18,000 – for doctors who choose to work in towns with less than 5000 people.
Doctors must work in the area for two years before they can receive the payment.
Under the current system, doctors had to remain in the area for only six months to benefit.
Wimmera Health Care Group chief executive Chris Scott said the move was a significant shift for providing incentives for doctors to stay in rural Victoria.
‘‘The payments max out after seven years, which is a very strong incentive for doctors to stay in those communities that are entitled to the payment, where we continue to struggle to attract and retain doctors,’’ he said.
Mr Scott said there were unique circumstances in every rural community that dictated the level of attractiveness for doctors.
‘‘These broader incentive payments assist in that process. However it’s really up to the individual communities to tailor the packages, incentives and benefits to individual doctors,’’ he said.
Mr Scott said doctors were primarily focused on patient welfare, but the incentive scheme would underpin that focus.
‘‘The changes are a first step towards recognition of the challenges in rural and regional Victoria and Australia in regard to the distribution of doctors,’’ he said.
West Wimmera Health Service chief executive John Smith welcomed the changes.
‘‘These doctors deserve it. They are basically on call out here 24 hours a day, seven days a week for 52 weeks,’’ he said.
Mr Smith said he believed a relaxed country lifestyle had great advantages.
‘‘It offers career opportunities for people who can’t get work in metropolitan areas, where they can come and work in a rural setting and be well-trained,’’ he said.
Mr Smith said he believed internationally trained doctors were holding rural Victorian general practice services together.
Member for Mallee Andrew Broad said Wimmera towns would benefit from the changes.
‘‘The changes are sensible and fair,’’ he said.
‘‘Smaller and remote towns find it much harder than larger regional centres such as Ballarat to attract doctors to their communities.
‘‘It makes sense to redirect money towards the towns that are most in need.
‘‘This overhaul means larger incentives will be offered to doctors who choose to work in areas where medical care faces the greatest shortage.’’