The Royal Flying Doctor Service will receive an additional $71.3 million from the Australian government over the next three years to support primary and dental services in rural and remote areas nationwide.
“All Australians should expect reasonable access to primary healthcare services no matter where they live, and this additional funding will support services to those who need them most,” RFDS Federation Executive Director Frank Quinlan said.
The budget expansion comes in response to rising demand and medical costs for primary care and rural and remote areas.
According to a 2023 RFDS report on heart stroke and cardiovascular disease, Bourke-Brewarrina/Walgett-Lightning Ridge had the highest standardised death ratio in NSW at 2.96, followed by Wellington, Moree, and Cobar/Coonamble/Nyngan-Warren. Standardised death rates are expressed per 100,000 people…