New rural doctor initiative welcomed

Primary Health Tasmania has welcomed the announcement of new funding for Tasmania to ensure continuity of employment and support for medical registrars.

The Australian and Tasmanian governments announced on 27 January an agreement to pilot a new employment model for GPs in training, aimed at boosting the number of doctors in rural and remote areas.

Primary Health Tasmania CEO Phil Edmondson said the initiative would provide new opportunities to engage doctors in final stage training in rural and regional general practice. 

“General practice is the cornerstone of our primary care system and it is essential that we support the GP workforce so that Tasmanians throughout the state can continue to access the care they need, when they need it,” Mr Edmondson said.