Rural Health System Resources
BY RURAL PEOPLE FOR RURAL PEOPLE
Evidence base for additional investment in rural health in Australia
Authors
Nous Group
Description
This report presents data on the expenditure gap in the Australian between rural and metropolitan areas. It demonstrates a $6.5 billion annual shortfall in health expenditure across hospital, community, aged care, the disability sector, and ancillary care in Australia’s regional and remote communities. The National Rural Health Alliance commissioned this report to better understand current healthcare expenditure and to inform discussions on the health needs of rural Australia.
Why is this useful for rural and remote people?
The report shows how much money the Federal Government saves every year by not addressing the rural doctor and health services shortages. In effect, if rural people were able to access local GPs, nurses and other health services at the same level as other Australians, the Federal Government would have to fork out another $6.5 billion annually. This report quantifies for rural people one of the reason why very little has been done to address rural health shortages in Australia, and why very little has changed under successive governments over the last two decades.
Suggested Citation
Nous Group (2023) Evidence base for additional investment in rural health in Australia
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