Fuel shortages and rapidly increasing prices were on the agenda at meetings with government ministers and department officials in Canberra this week.
ACRRM joined other health organisations, including the Rural Doctors Association of Australia, to discuss the growing impact fuel access has on healthcare delivery in rural, remote, and First Nations communities.
In coverage in The Australian today, ACRRM President Dr Rod Martin says government preparations are underway.
“We got assurance that lots of early response processes have already started to come through and be activated,” he says in the article.
Dr Martin highlights the dependency on diesel in rural communities.
He encourages Rural Generalists and health services to begin preparing for potential disruptions, particularly ensuring vaccine cold chains and backup power supplies are protected.
Dr Martin also notes the growing financial pressure on patients, with rising fuel costs impacting access to care.
He says patients are spending up to $4 a litre for diesel and travelling hundreds of kilometres to seek treatment.
“They’ve got to make a choice between their own health sometimes and making sure that they’ve got enough groceries.”
ACRRM will continue to advocate for practical solutions and contingency planning to ensure communities can access care, regardless of fuel supply challenges.