The RACGP has endorsed findings of the much anticipated Mason Review of Australian Government Health Workforce Program, that have highlighted the need to move beyond a focus on specialist medicine and acute care beds, to appropriate generalist skills and team based community care and reinforces the pivotal role of general practice in all settings especially rural areas.
Dr Liz Marles, RACGP President was enthusiastic that generalism will be supported and promoted for GPs and other specialists, including general surgery, emergency medicine and psychiatry.
This report recognises the pivotal role of GPs providing coordinated care to communities across Australia and provides recommendations related to coordination of medical training, a new rural training pathway for general practice, improvements to rural recruitment and retention strategies, and importantly, key principles to inform an improved ASGC-RA system.
Following the recommendations, Health Minister, Tanya Plibersek acknowledged the need to amend the rural location classification scheme in order to determine eligibility for support and funding. In addition, the review made recommendations to improve several Commonwealth workforce programs and the College was gratified to read that such programs would be allocated based on competitive tender rather than historical precedent.
The RACGP also notes the review proposes recommended reforms to the District of Workforce Shortage classification system, potentially leading to greater flexibility and clarity for GPs working in these areas.
Dr Kathy Kirkpatrick, Chair of the RACGP National Rural Faculty “At last, this report provides hope that finally after many years of rhetoric, a solution to the ASGC-RA rural classification system is in sight.”
“The classification models put forward in the review hold promise, and we hope the RACGP will be invited to contribute further to refining this important classification system,” Dr Kirkpatrick said.
The RACGP notes the report’s recommendation to fund a new national rural training pathway, to further assist medical students from rural areas build vital skills and competencies required to achieve general practice endpoints and Fellowship of the RACGP.
“The RACGP is keen to find out further information about the proposed national rural training pathway enabling students, interns and registrars to undertake more of their training in a rural setting.”
The RACGP’s 55th Council members will be meeting in mid-June to review the findings and to analyse recommendations relevant to general practice.