Medical schools not enough

April 14, 2015, 4 a.m.

Building new medical schools at rural universities is not enough to alleviate the regional doctor shortage, according to the Rural Doctors Association of Australia (RDAA).

The RDAA said positive connections need to be made between medical graduates and rural practices to encourage more doctors to the bush.

Building new medical schools at rural universities is not enough to alleviate the regional doctor shortage, according to the Rural Doctors Association of Australia (RDAA).

Charles Sturt University and La Trobe are seeking approval for a new medical school at Orange, Bendigo and Wagga Wagga campuses to allow students the opportunity to study medicine without moving to the city.

However, RDAA president Dennis Pashen said there needed to be more than just building the regional schools.

"You're probably just increasing the number of medical graduates. You need to follow the evidence for what actually works," he said.

Professor Pashen said there were additional known factors, such as growing up in rural areas and interning in country towns, that directly link to doctors remaining in the bush.

He said every positive experience medical students had in rural areas increased the likelihood they would remain there to work.

The RDAA has frequently stressed the importance for medical graduates to be offered the opportunity to train in rural areas.

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Medical schools not enough

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