Health service delivery in rural Australia

Australians in regional, rural and remote areas have a different profile of illness from each other and from those living in metropolitan communities. Comprehensive rural health statistics are lacking but available evidence from a number of sources provides solid evidence on the health inequities in these areas.

People in rural and remote communities face many barriers that reduce their access to adequate and appropriate health care. In particular they are affected by distance, a shortage of health care professionals, fewer or less comprehensive health services, difficulties with intersectoral co-ordination, the effects of economic variability, and ever decreasing services.

Because of the distinct pattern of morbidity and mortality in rural areas, the barriers and service disadvantages faced by rural people, and the status of Indigenous health, different structures are required for effective health services in rural areas. It is often the case that models of health service delivery which are effective in metropolitan areas are not the best approaches for rural and remote Australia.