Addressing Health Equity in Rural and Remote Australia

The disparity in healthcare access and health equity between metropolitan and rural Australia is a persistent and growing concern. Recent studies reveal stark differences in health outcomes, life expectancy, and access to essential services, particularly affecting remote and very remote regions.

One of the most glaring issues is access to GPs. While only 6% of patients in metropolitan areas cite proximity to a GP as a reason for avoiding a visit, this number skyrockets to 58% in remote areas. This lack of access is part of a broader issue where healthcare is difficult to reach for many Australians living far from urban centres.

This inaccessibility is not just an inconvenience; it is costing lives.

• The mortality rate in very remote areas is 1.5 times higher than in major cities, and potentially avoidable deaths are 2–3 times more frequent.

• Hospitalisations for preventable conditions are 2–3 times as high in these remote areas.

• Coronary heart disease, the leading cause of death across all regions, has age-standardised rates up to 1.7 times higher outside of major cities.

Efforts to address health equity disparities in rural and remote communities are urgently needed.

Closing the Gap for Indigenous Australians

These health challenges disproportionately impact Indigenous Australians. A significant life expectancy gap exists between Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations in rural Australia, with a difference of 6.8 years for males and 6.5 years for females. However, as remoteness increases, this gap becomes even more pronounced, reaching 12.4 years for both males and females. People living in Brewarrina in remote Western NSW have a life expectancy 13 years lower than those living in inner Sydney.

The failure to address these disparities is reflected in the progress toward the Closing the Gap targets. Of the 19 key metrics set to improve health and wellbeing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, 14 are currently off track. The National Agreement on Closing the Gap, designed to reduce inequality and achieve parity in life outcomes, has not yet achieved its intended goals, leaving many communities without the support they need.

Indigenous Australians face serious health equity issues in rural and remote Australia

Solutions

Efforts to address these disparities are urgently needed, and innovative solutions must be considered. Aeromedical aircraft, including large cargo drones, and telehealth services have shown potential to bridge the healthcare gap, offering faster access to essential medical services and improving patient outcomes in rural and remote communities.

Ultimately, solving health inequities in these areas will require coordinated efforts across governments, healthcare providers, and Indigenous communities. Improving access, enhancing preventive care, and addressing the unique challenges of rural living are critical to ensuring that all Australians, regardless of where they live, have access to the care they need to lead healthy, fulfilling lives.