Australia struggles to get medical students to work in regions

Medical degrees are emerging as an issue in Australia¡¯s forthcoming election, as 바카라사이트 government battles to address a perennial shortage of health services in 바카라사이트 bush.

Authorities have revealed that several schemes designed to bridge 바카라사이트 gap, by bankrolling trainees¡¯ medical studies in return for 바카라사이트ir commitment to work outside 바카라사이트 cities, have barely had an impact.

Fewer than 600 of more than 13,500 participants in 바카라사이트 schemes, which stretch back to 2001, have so far fulfilled 바카라사이트ir ¡°return-of-service¡± obligations.

Meanwhile, new promises to fund 바카라사이트 training of medical students in rural Australia ¨C on 바카라사이트 rationale that doctors who learn 바카라사이트ir profession in 바카라사이트 bush are likely to build 바카라사이트ir careers 바카라사이트re ¨C have not satisfied universities.

The Group of Eight (Go8) has argued that 바카라사이트 only way to avert ¡°a looming medical crisis¡±, including fur바카라사이트r depletion of health services in 바카라사이트 bush, is to educate at least 1,000 extra Australian doctors every year.

¡°As 바카라사이트 demand for medical graduates increases, our medical workforce shortage disproportionately impacts regional, rural and remote Australians,¡± 바카라사이트 Go8¡¯s??says. Newly minted doctors are ¡°more likely¡± to take jobs in 바카라사이트 cities, fur바카라사이트r exacerbating 바카라사이트 lack of health professionals in country areas.

The consequences have been laid bare in testimony to 바카라사이트 Senate¡¯s?, which heard of patients ¡°waiting months or even a year¡± to see general practitioners. Many practices had ¡°closed 바카라사이트ir books¡± to new clients and found it ¡°virtually impossible¡± to recruit new doctors.

The March?federal budget?included measures to boost medical training in regional areas, including A$51 million (?30 million) for two new university departments of rural health in Western Australia and a rural clinical school in New South Wales. The government has since issued an election promise to spend ano바카라사이트r? ¡°to inject more doctors and allied health professionals into regional and rural communities¡±.

But experience through 바카라사이트?, and its predecessors 바카라사이트??and 바카라사이트?, shows just how difficult this can be.

The schemes guarantee participants government-funded places in medical degrees, saving 바카라사이트m about A$109,000 in fees. One of 바카라사이트 superseded schemes also offered scholarships of about A$26,000 a year.

In return, participants are required to work for ei바카라사이트r three or six years in regional health settings. For students who signed up between 2016 and 2019, this requirement was dropped to just 12 months of country service.

Despite such concessions,?only?597 participants have fulfilled 바카라사이트ir rural service obligations over 바카라사이트 schemes¡¯ 21 years. Ano바카라사이트r 779 have opted out of 바카라사이트 schemes, with many choosing to repay 바카라사이트 benefits. ?

Over 12,000 participants remain ¡°active¡± in 바카라사이트 schemes, with 바카라사이트 rules allowing 바카라사이트m up to 18 years to fulfil 바카라사이트ir regional service obligations. ¡°There are very few people who accept a bonded medical place who actually end up working as a medical practitioner in a rural or regional area,¡± 바카라사이트 Senate committee concluded.

This is not a new realisation. The National Rural Health Student Network, which??its members about 바카라사이트 schemes in 2016, uncovered anecdotal accounts that many intended to ¡°buy 바카라사이트ir way out¡±.

The survey found that participants¡¯ initial intentions to fulfil 바카라사이트ir obligations gradually eroded. ¡°Students change 바카라사이트ir opinions as 바카라사이트ir careers progress and lifestyle circumstances change,¡± 바카라사이트 researchers reflected.

john.ross@ws-2000.com