Rising Petrol Prices Make It Harder For People to See Their GP
25 Mar 2026
Associate Professor Michael Clements, Chair of RACGP Rural, says the high fuel costs are being felt in rural and remote communities.
“We’re already planning differently because fuel prices are so high,” he told newsGP.
Many health services in remote areas depend on doctors and nurses travelling long distances to see patients. Some work on fly‑in, fly‑out or drive‑in, drive‑out arrangements, and the money set aside for travel doesn’t go up just because fuel gets more expensive.
Associate Professor Clements also said GP registrars on rural placements could be affected, as many of them travel from far away to work.
The big rise in fuel prices is also changing how patients think about their health. Clements said one farmer told him they have to choose between buying fuel to plant crops and using fuel to go to the doctor.
“We’re already seeing patients put fuel first and delay face‑to‑face appointments,” he said.
Dr Tim Senior, Chair of RACGP Specific Interests Poverty and Health, says he has noticed a similar pattern in his Sydney clinic.
“One patient changed from a face‑to‑face visit to a phone consult because petrol is so expensive,” he said.
Dr Senior said almost everyone is feeling the pinch, but it hits low‑income families hardest. People who are already struggling with the cost of living are more likely to skip travel that isn’t essential, including trips to the GP.
Although some petrol stations have run low on fuel, Dr Senior hasn’t heard many patients say they might not be able to get to work. But he believes telehealth could become more common if prices stay high, especially in places without good public transport.
He also suggested practices make sure patients are registered with MyMedicare so they can use longer telehealth consultations if needed.
Associate Professor Clements says he doesn’t want to see a big return to telehealth like during COVID‑19. Back then, delays in diagnosis and treatment led to worse health outcomes for some people.
“We know telehealth helped during the pandemic, but it wasn’t enough for lots of patients,” he said.
He hopes fuel prices will drop, but says if the high costs last a long time, rural practices may have to change how they deliver care.
https://www1.racgp.org.au/
Source: newsGP