The people of Murray Bridge will feel the benefit of increased financial incentives to attract doctors and then keep them, as a result of the Rudd Government's Rural Health Workforce Strategy.
Following the reclassification of Murray Bridge as 'inner regional' from 1 July 2010, doctors may be eligible to receive retention grants for the first time, starting at $2,500 after one year and growing to $12,000 after five years.
In addition, doctors who move to the Murray Bridge area from a major city may be eligible for a relocation grant of $15,000.
The Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, and the Minister for Indigenous Health, Rural and Regional Health and Regional Services Delivery, Warren Snowdon, were in Murray Bridge today to hear first hand from local health professionals on the ground.
The Prime Minister and Minister Snowdon toured the Bridge Clinic, outlined the National Health and Hospital Reform Commission's recommendations, and listened to local health professionals as they outlined their priorities for the future of the health system.
The consultation with rural doctors and stakeholders at TAFE SA Murray Bridge is the 58th across the country to road-test the National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission's proposed reforms.
The NHHRC report made recommendations for system-wide changes to Australian health care.
All Australians are able to send in their comments and contribute to the national debate on our health system via the yourHealth.gov.au website.
Copies of the NHHRC report are on the website, along with the two other reports presented to the Australian Government - the draft of the National Primary Health Care Strategy and the report of the National Preventative Health Taskforce, which also made recommendations in their areas of expertise.