HORSHAM and Stawell could be given District of Workforce Shortage status within days.

Health Minister Greg Hunt visited the region last week and promised he would immediately review the area’s classification.

A District of Workforce Shortage is a government measure designed to ensure adequate provision of medical services across Australia.

The status is applied when an area has less access to medical services than the national average.

Member for Mallee Andrew Broad said on Wednesday he and Mr Hunt expected the federal government to announce a District of Workforce Shortage for Horsham and Stawell within days.

“This will assist us to open a greater pool of doctors, such as overseas-trained doctors and bonded graduates,” he said.

“It’s good the minister has acted on this.”

In September, Mr Broad met then Assistant Health Minister David Gillespie to discuss the workforce shortage system, and advocate for changes.

​”It works on one doctor being able to service a population of about 980 people,” he said at the time.

“In some of our areas we have doctors who are serving substantially more than that, but somehow they don’t fit the system. 

“It also fails to account for specialty practitioners and casual or part-time workers.”