The District Council of Kimba says it's confident it has secured an international doctor thanks to tireless campaigning, and a $1-million revamp of its medical centre.
Mayor Dean Johnson has been in contact with a GP who is seriously looking at calling the South Australian region home.
"We're really hopeful that we've found a doctor internationally that's looking to come to Kimba."
Mr Johnson said the most recent video campaign attracted the international doctor and received "several strong bites".
"It's fantastic news, it's terrific, but we're not sitting on our laurels," he said.
"We're out there trying to get support for that doctor so we can get two or three in our centre.
"We certainly hope we've got a solution in pipe, but we desperately need more."
Revamped facilities, rent-free drawcard
Today is the opening of Kimba's brand-new medical centre, which includes seven consultation rooms, renovated waiting and administration areas and a dentistry room.
Meanwhile, there are two houses available to accommodate the GPs, rent-free.
"It'll be an amazing practice for any GP, I'm sure they'll be proud to work in this unit," Mr Johnson said.
"We've got plenty of work for them. For a sustainable solution, we need multiple GPs."
Acting chief executive Julie Marron from Eyre and Far North Local Health Network has welcomed the upgrades and the increased capacity for health services it will provide the Eyre Peninsula.
"The renovations represent the Kimba community spirit," Ms Marron said in a statement.
"We look forward to working in conjunction with the centre and their health professionals in the future."
Practice ready for patients
The medical centre has been equipped with solar infrastructure and an updated IT system.
"We've spent just shy of a million dollars on the medical centre with the hope of attracting GPs to Kimba to look after our amazing local community," Mr Johnson said.
"It's amazing. It has solar power, an auto start-up emergency generator.
"It's fully stocked; there's a vaccine fridge, computer systems. It's all connected."
The official opening today will be toured by SA Labor senator Karen Grogan, Member for Grey Rowan Ramsey and Flinders MP Sam Telfer.
Many rural towns face a GP shortage, but Mr Johnson calls Kimba unique for its community-led approach to finding solutions.
"The difference for Kimba is we don't just stand there with our hands out and expect someone else to fix it, we're actually getting in and contributing strongly and doing what we can to improve our local conditions.
"This has been a huge effort from our community."
