The Rural Doctors Association of Australia (RDAA) says more regionally-based specialist training is needed for GPs.
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare’s most recent data shows specialists tend not to work in country areas.
The institute’s Dr Adrian Webster says there is a higher proportion of GPs in regional areas and they often work longer hours.
“There is an imbalance there that specialists tend to be concentrated in major cities,” he said.
RDAA president Dr Ian Kamerman says it means support for doctors to do regionally-based specialist training programs is vital for country patients.
“They need doctors with a wide set of skills so they can be looked after closer to home,” he said.
Dr Kamerman says many country towns are experiencing doctor shortages and more is expected of country GPs.
“That’s not only your office space general practice, it’s also you’re covering the emergency department at your local hospital as well as in-patients in the hospital,” he said.
He wants greater incentives to recruit and retain doctors in regional areas.
Australia’s overall health workforce numbers have remained stable since 2011.