Should the Commonwealth take responsibility for all primary care in Australia, and how would consumers in rural and remote areas benefit from the proposed augmentation of 'comprehensive primary care centres and services'? These are two of the topics raised in a series of thought-provoking notes, posted on the National Rural Health Alliance website, to inform and engage consumers about the ongoing process of health reform.

"The Government is considering proposals from three major reviews into Australia's health system, and people living in rural and remote areas are obviously interested in what these changes will mean for them," NRHA Chair, Dr Jenny May, said today. "The Alliance prepared submissions to all three of these reviews. The Health Reform Notes now available on its website are interim positions aimed primarily at exploring the views of rural people and communities.

"We invite all those interested in rural and remote health to access the Alliance website at http://www.ruralhealth.org.au to gauge for themselves the issues our 28 member bodies consider to be the priority areas for reform," Dr May said.

The nine Health Reform Notes include calls for rural equivalence funding; for an improved patient assisted travel scheme to compensate rural people who need to travel long distances to access health care; for easier access to oral health care; and for a better way to develop and distribute the health workforce.

Anyone interested in providing the Alliance with feedback, comments or suggestions is asked to email a response to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or make direct contact by phoning (02) 6285 4660.

Further Contacts
Dr Jenny May - Chair: 0427 885 337
Marshall Wilson - Media: 0419 664 155