The AMA Council of Rural Doctors (CRD) met via videoconference for the first time this year. Dr Marco Giuseppin, Chair of CRD, led discussions on a range of issues facing rural doctors and the health of rural communities, including:
The rollout of the COVID-19 vaccination campaign in rural Australia,
Supporting the rights of rural GPs to work in hospitals, and
"End-to-end" models of medical education and training in rural and remote locations.
CRD also discussed the possibility of quarantining returned travellers in regional locations, endorsing the AMA position that best practice infection-control is more important than where quarantine might be located.
Peta Rutherford, CEO of the Rural Doctors Association of Australia (RDAA), also attended the meeting and discussed rural workforce program reforms. CRD provided important feedback on the proposals. CRD will continue to work with RDAA on rural workforce issues.
