A NEW agreement made by medical professionals and the State Government is expected to bring more general practitioners to rural and regional areas.
It comes along with a new payment of up to $10,000 offered to encourage new doctors into country towns including Bordertown, Kingston, Millicent and Penola.
The rural attraction payment of up to $50,000 for new general practitioners beginning their practice and providing hospital services will also be expanded to a wider range of regional sites.
The agreement was negotiated between the Australian Medical Assoctiation South Australia, the Rural Doctor’s Association of South Australia and the Rural Support Service on behalf of SA Health’s six regional local health networks.
It will include a new four-year deal with rural general practitioners to provide greater recognition, remuneration and support for regional and remote doctors across the state.
It will also deliver new incentives to boost country workforce.
There will also be an increase of three per cent to the sessional rates, reflecting the work and contribution rural general practitioners provide communities.
In addition, a recognition payment of $5000 will be given to each current general practitioner signing onto the new agreement in order to acknowledge their service and ongoing commitment to rural and regional communities.
Minister for Health and Wellbeing Chris Picton said he wanted to thank the AMA and the Rural Doctor’s Association for the “collaborative nature” of the negotiation.
“This provides security to our regonal foctors compared to the previous two-year deal signed under the former Liberal Government,” Mr Picton said.
“It also provides peave of mind to people who live in regional South Australia to know that their local doctor is being looked after for the incredible role they play in the community.
“Combined with the capital works going on across regional hospitals and our For Work, For Life Incentives, this agreement demonstrates that there has never been a better time for GPs choosing to make a tree or sea change to a regional area. ”
The agreement will start from February 1, 2024.
