The removal of the Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme's four-night rule by the Queensland government is applauded by the National Rural Health Alliance (the Alliance). Rural Queenslanders will no longer need to cover the first four nights of accommodation out of pocket from 1 August. This initiative will save Queenslanders who need to travel to access healthcare, hundreds of dollars, which add to the other costs of living and working outside of urban centres.
"This is timely and necessary news for rural populations in Queensland," said the Alliance Chief Executive Susi Tegen.
"Many rural patients must travel over 50kms from their homes to the nearest hospital to receive medical treatment. As such, this change to the Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme ensures that financial barriers are less likely to hinder access to healthcare.
"We're pleased to see the Queensland government taking positive steps towards addressing an inequity long felt by its rural communities," said Ms Tegen.
"We also congratulate the group on working towards 'Breaking Down the Barriers for Rural Patients in City Hospitals – Brisbane' for their relentless advocacy work raising the awareness of health access inequity and in bringing this health dividend to rural patients. It is a fantastic achievement for the group as well as for the rural community in Queensland.
"We know that nearly 45,000 people in remote Australia have no access to primary healthcare services within an hour's drive time from their home and the Alliance is working hard to reverse this situation. We are keen to work in collaboration with federal and state governments, and communities, so that rural populations obtain the healthcare they need and deserve as Australian people.
"Patient Travel Subsidy Schemes are a crucial element of providing equitable access to essential health services for people in rural, regional and remote Australia," Ms Tegen concluded.
