Rural doctors represented 16% of Australia's 49,000-strong
medical workforce while 30% of the population lives outside
metropolitan areas, according to a report released today by the
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
Medical labour force 1995 shows that there were 325
doctors per 100,000 population in metropolitan areas but only 142
per 100,000 population in rural areas. Large rural centres, with
261 doctors per 100,000 population, fared better than remote areas
with 109 doctors per 100,000 population.
Head of the Institute's Health and Welfare Labour Force Unit, Mr
John Harding, said that the 8,000 medical practitioners working in
rural areas in December 1995 were more likely than their city
counterparts to be men, non-specialists, and work longer hours and
have higher patient loads.
Mr Harding also said, 'Difficulties in recruiting doctors to
rural areas were compounded by the fact that relatively few medical
students have the characteristics of doctors most likely to
practise in rural areas.
'In 1996 almost 90% of newly commencing Australian medical
students were themselves from capital cities and other metropolitan
areas.
'In addition, 38% of Australian resident medical students were
born in overseas countries, and relatively higher proportions of
overseas-born doctors are found in capital city practice, as are
female doctors, who now represent almost 50% of medical
graduates.'
Other findings of the report include:
- 512 doctors worked in Aboriginal health services, 193 as a
primary job. 57.5% of these doctors were located in metropolitan
areas.
- 42.2% (20,647) of all practising medical practitioners worked
either full-time or part of their time in public hospitals, while
6.9% (3,393) worked in private hospitals.
- In 1996, 289 permanent migrants were approved for registration
for medical practice; in 1995ȍ96 there was a net increase in the
Medicare workforce of 125 overseas-trained doctors and 695
Australian-trained doctors.
- In 1995ȍ96, 980 overseas resident medical practitioners arrived
in Australia for temporary employment, mainly to fill approved
area-of-need positions. 56.6% were from Great Britain and
Ireland.
25 July 1997
For further information: John Harding, ph. 02
6244 1153 or 04 1923 9582 (mobile).
For media copies of the report (170pp): Mark
McCarthy, ph. 02 6244 1032.
Availability: Check the AIHW Publications Catalogue
for details.