Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
ABC News
ABC News
Health

Solutions to rural doctor shortages needed urgently with a focus on general practice, technology, experts say

Dr Michael Mbaogu says the rural doctor shortage is having crippling effects on his GP business. (ABC North West Queensland: Julia Andre)

If Dr Michael Mbaogu closed his medical centre, about 20,000 people would lose access to one of the only healthcare services in town.

With just five full-time doctors struggling to service that population in the outback city of Mount Isa, Dr Mbaogu says his business, like many rural practices, is barely staying afloat.

"I have never known it to be this bad in the regions, and that is right across the country," Dr Mbaogu said.

His situation and the reality of rural residents, who can pay twice the amount for prescriptions than city counterparts and wait weeks to see a doctor, is a tale as old as time, he says.

But time is running out.

About 20,000 residents in the outback city of Mount Isa would suffer if doctor shortages continue. (Supplied: Anushka Dissanayake)

After a new report revealed the industry is grappling with the biggest workforce shortage in the country, experts are scrambling for solutions on how to recruit more doctors to the regions.

Despite inflated salaries, free houses and cars on offer to rural doctors, it has been impossible for Dr Mbaogu to entice anyone out to the country.

"I can't even get a doctor in training out here," he said.

Experts say solutions lie well beyond hefty pay cheques.

Tech focus and boost to 'bedrock' of health

For up-and-coming doctors, the general practice industry offers a dismal career pathway, Dr Mbaogu says.

"General practice is the bedrock of healthcare in Australia. We see more patients than any other level of care," he said.

"Yet doctors entering the industry are looking to the specialties because that is where they can make the most money."

The government needed to offer better wages and funding for the primary healthcare sector to build a stronger workforce in general practice, Dr Mbaogu said.

"The current funding is a joke," he said.

Last year, the North West Hospital Health Service (NWHHS) finally recruited a doctor for the rural town of Julia Creek, after years of relying on locum services.

While a sizable salary and free house sweetened the deal, the organisation said marketing the rural lifestyle and the promise of state-of-the-art technology got the applicant over the line.

"Our focus has been selling that point of difference regarding the outback lifestyle," said NWHHS acting chief executive Sean Birgan.

A focus on selling the outback lifestyle has been successful in recruiting doctors to the regions. (Supplied: Cloncurry Shire Council)

"Technology also comes into play.

"Some of our junior staff tell us that the equipment we have here, for example our endoscopy devices, are better than the equipment they use in Brisbane city hospitals," Mr Birgan said.

"That will attract staff because they want to be a part of the latest technology and innovation."

Red tape on foreign doctors

COVID border closures saw a huge decline in the number of international medical staff migrating to Australia, Mr Birgan said.

"It has meant we have not been able to recruit doctors like we usually would and that is still an issue today."

Mount Isa hospital is investing in new technology to entice doctors to the rural city. (ABC North West Queensland: Kelly Butterworth)

Dr Mbaogu said the barriers faced by foreign doctors should be eased.

"They are met with too much red tape and bureaucracy despite the fact that they are qualified to an acceptable standard," he said.

If drastic measures were not introduced soon to ease rural doctor shortages, it would be the residents that copped the biggest blow, he said.

"If things continue like this we will struggle to keep providing our services.

"Rural towns will suffer even more than they already are," Dr Mbaogu said.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.