National Rural Health Alliance critical of Government policies in bush

The Federal Coalition has made a slow start in announcing relevant policies that relate directly to improving poor health outcomes in the bush.

Just weeks ahead of a federal election, the first National Rural Health Alliance score card shows the Democrats well ahead on points, followed by Labor and the Greens.

Based on party election announcements to date and marked against priorities the Alliance considers critical to alleviating the current situation, the Liberal/National coalition has some ground to make up.

This is despite recent major decisions on health from the Government.

“It is too early to gauge the total commitment of parties in addressing issues the Alliance views as essential.

“One of our particular concerns is the failure to date of all parties to acknowledge the need for an independent inquiry into the sustainability of rural and remote communities,’’ said NRHA chair, Professor John Wakerman.

“Although we are a health alliance, it is quite deliberate that our first priority in the election campaign is to seek bipartisan political support for such an inquiry.

“There is no sense in being concerned about how to devise sustainable health services for rural and remote areas unless we can be sure that they will still be there in the medium and long term.”

The NRHA will update its score card regularly between now and the election as the parties announce policies that relate directly to rural and remote health issues.

Details will be distributed nationally to inform voters of the essential issues for improving health outcomes for people in rural and remote areas.