Emergency Doctors Push for Stronger Investment in Rural General Practice
23 Apr 2026
Emergency Doctors Push for Stronger Investment in Rural General Practice
Source: Australasian College of Emergency Medicine (Senate Inquiry submission)
Emergency doctors are calling on the Federal Government to invest more in rural general practice, warning that gaps in primary care are leading to avoidable visits to emergency departments.
In a submission to the Senate Inquiry on rural, regional and remote Medicare access and funding, ACEM says limited access to GPs in rural areas is a major reason patients end up in hospital with conditions that could have been treated earlier.
The college says these challenges vary between communities but often result in people missing out on ongoing care, especially for chronic illnesses, leading to worsening health and more hospital admissions.
ACEM is calling for higher Medicare rebates for long consultations, better support for chronic disease management, and stronger incentives to keep rural GP clinics financially sustainable. It also recommends improving funding settings for independently owned rural practices.
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners made similar points in its own submission, warning that small rural practices face serious financial pressure and may struggle to remain viable under current funding models.
RACGP Rural Chair Associate Professor Michael Clements said emergency departments are under pressure not because of sicker patients, but because patients cannot access timely primary care.
He also said current funding systems often measure activity like bulk billing, rather than the quality or complexity of care being delivered.
The RACGP submission also highlights that rural Australians experience poorer health outcomes and less funding compared to urban areas, with a significant gap in health investment. It also raises concerns about telehealth rules and restrictions that can limit access to care.
Both organisations stress that reforms must include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations in decision-making, warning that excluding them could worsen health inequality.
The Senate Inquiry is expected to release its final report and recommendations in November this year.
Source: Australasian College of Emergency Medicine (Senate Inquiry submission)