DOCTORS in Tenterfield will receive higher incentives from July this year under plans to create a fairer GP system.
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The revamped GP Rural Incentives Program has been spruiked as an improved system by federal assistant health minister Fiona Nash.
Under the old program, up to $50 million a year was going to incentives for doctors to remain in well-serviced regional cities, including Townsville and Cairns, both with populations of more than 100,000.
“The new GPRIP system will deliver a fairer system for smaller towns; redirecting money to attract more doctors to smaller towns that have genuine difficulty attracting and retaining doctors,” Ms Nash said.
“It makes more sense to use that money to attract doctors to where the greatest shortages are - small rural and remote communities, not big regional cities.”
Tenterfield, Manilla, Quirindi, Bingara, Uralla, Werris Creek, Barraba, Walcha, Wee Waa and Guyra will all receive higher incentives from July this year.
The new GP rural incentive payment will benefit as many as 450 rural towns.
The highest incentive paid to work in remote Australia jumps from $47,000 a year to $60,000 a year, and the maximum incentive to work in a town of less than 5000 people in regional Australia will increase from $18,000 to $23,000.
Member for New England Barnaby Joyce said it will help retain GP’s in towns like Tenterfield.
"It makes more sense to use that money to attract doctors to where the greatest shortages are - small rural and remote communities, not big regional cities.
"For decades, Australia's small rural towns have struggled to attract enough doctors. This change is one way we're tackling that,” Mr Joyce said.