Replenishing and refining the Rural Health Strategy

The Commonwealth government's Rural Health Strategy funds a group of 13 programs. Current funding for the programs lapses on 30 June 2008. The Department of Health and Ageing recently undertook a review of many of the programs and others providing special rural health services. The National Rural Health Alliance welcomes any review of health programs that would result in a systematic approach to rural and remote health services. It believes that people in rural and remote areas will accept some rationalisation of programs as long as the result is better services and access overall. The Alliance hopes that the National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission will identify gaps and overlaps in the current system and develop, in consultation with health service providers and consumers, a national rural health plan.