Rural women’s healthcare shouldn’t require a road trip

Women in rural and remote Australia deserve healthcare that is as accessible as the communities they help sustain, the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) says this International Day of Rural Women. 

 

ACRRM President Dr Rod Martin says the day is an opportunity to recognise rural women’s contribution and call for better access to care close to home. 

 

“Rural women contribute enormously to their communities through their work, businesses, families, caring responsibilities and community leadership,” Dr Martin says. 

 

“Supporting that contribution means supporting their health." 

 

“Living outside a major city shouldn’t automatically mean taking a day off work, organising childcare and travelling hundreds of kilometres to access healthcare.” 

 

From cervical screening and contraception to pregnancy care, menopause and preventive health, Rural Generalists can provide a broad range of women’s healthcare within their communities. 

 

“Rural Generalists are trained to provide comprehensive care across a person’s lifetime, and many have additional specialist skills that allow them to provide an even greater range of women’s health services locally,” Dr Martin says. 

 

“Being able to see a doctor you know, in your own community, can make it easier to seek care and follow through with treatment." 

 

“It also means women can receive ongoing support from someone who understands their health, their circumstances and the community they live in.” 

 

Dr Martin says strengthening local services must be part of efforts to improve health outcomes for rural and remote women. 

 

“We cannot simply encourage women to prioritise their health without addressing the barriers that make it difficult to get care,” he says. 

 

“Travel, cost and time away from work and family can turn a routine appointment into a major undertaking." 

 

“Investing in Rural Generalist training and supporting doctors to work in rural and remote communities helps more women access care locally." 

 

“Where specialist care is needed, their Rural Generalist can help coordinate that care and continue supporting them before and after the appointment." 

 

“This International Day of Rural Women, we should recognise women’s contribution with a commitment to services that support their health and wellbeing." 

 

“Wherever a woman lives, she should have access to high-quality healthcare as close to home as possible.”