The latest data revealed in an independent Nous Group report, commissioned by the National Rural Health Alliance (the Alliance), demonstrates the need for greater and more strategic investment in the health of rural Australians, presenting clear evidence per-person spending on healthcare is not equitable, and that this inequity is contributing to poorer health outcomes experienced in rural areas.
It shows rural people experience poorer circumstances in terms of social determinants of health, a lack of service availability, and higher costs of access and delivery.
Alliance Chief Executive, Susi Tegen, said the report looks at health spending from a patient's perspective, reflecting the alarming day-to-day realities for rural Australians unable to access equitable care.
"Over 7 million people, who make up nearly a third of Australia's population, experience a greater burden from illness and early death, in part due to inadequate funding for their health care. This is despite the significant contribution they make to Australia's economy," Tegen said.
"Although the government invests in workforce initiatives and several measures are in place to support rural health, these need to be augmented and continued as they still do not sufficiently improve service availability and a patient's access to health care," Tegen said.
"Social determinants of health negatively impact rural people, who are sick for longer periods and end up in hospitals because of inadequate primary care access to doctors, nurses and other health workers.
"Proper funding in this regard would keep people well and out of the expensive and overburdened hospital system."
Tegen said rural communities need the government to be more flexible and introduce block or genuine support funding to provide multidisciplinary care for patients.
