Rural Doctors Welcome Minister's Decision To Grant Permanent Visa To Horsham Doctor

Main Category: Primary Care / General Practice
Article Date: 27 Nov 2008 - 1:00 PST

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The Rural Doctors Association of Australia (RDAA) has welcomed a decision by the Federal Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Chris Evans, to grant permanent visas to Victorian-based overseas trained doctor, Dr Bernhard Moeller and his family.

"Overseas trained doctors like Dr Moeller are playing a vital role by providing many rural communities across Australia with local medical care" RDAA President, Dr Nola Maxfield, said.

"Rural and remote Australia is drastically short of doctors-we urgently need at least 1800 additional doctors in rural Australia just to ensure access to basic healthcare

"At the moment overseas trained doctors make up 43% of Australia's rural doctor workforce, and that percentage is even higher in some of the more remote parts of the country.

"Overseas trained doctors deserve all the gratitude and support we can offer because without them the pressure on the health system would be enormous.

"Given the much-valued service that Dr Moeller is providing to the community of Horsham in rural Victoria, we have been urging Minister Evans and the Immigration Department to reconsider Dr Moeller's application for permanent residency after it had initially been rejected by the Department.

"We commend Minister Evans on his decision today to grant Dr Moeller and his family permanent visas."

Rural Doctors Association of Australia