With less than one week to go until the public consultation closes on recognition of Rural Generalist Medicine (RGM) as a specialist field, Australia's two GP colleges urge doctors and community members to have their say.
The Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) and the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) are buoyed by the conversation that has been generated on the recognition of RGM throughout the process.
ACRRM President Dr Dan Halliday says it has been wonderful to see the engagement through the recent webinars hosted by the Rural Generalist Taskforce, through College channels and at events.
"Feedback shows growing understanding across Australia of the role of Rural Generalists and the unique scope of services that they can bring to their remote and rural communities," Dr Halliday says.
"Rural Generalist recognition is an important lever to building this remote and rural workforce.
"It will create a single national Rural Generalist quality standard which is purpose-designed, and easily understood by systems, patients, and doctors," he says.
RACGP Vice President and Rural Chair Associate Professor Michael Clements agrees and says understanding an input of rural, remote and First Nations peoples is a critical step in the recognition process.
"Health is the literal and figurative beating heart of our rural communities," he says.
"This is a great opportunity for the people this is most important for – our rural and remote communities, and GPs and others in rural health – to ensure rural generalism is robust and meets the needs of those communities. Anyone can have input and it's critical those voices are heard in Canberra. "The Australian Medical Council will review all feedback and provide advice the Medical Board of Australia and pass that advice to the health minister's committee for final determination. We thank everyone who already contributed and encourage others to have their say before next Tuesday."
Instructions on making a submission can be found on the Medical Board of Australia website, under current consultations .
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