Under-siege Tristar Medical Group has declared the absence of a resident doctor in Murtoa, Rupanyup and Minyip an example of the shortage of services gripping regional Australia.

Clinical operations executive director Anne Gardner added that cessation of the group’s GP services in the Dunmunkle towns were unrelated to Tristar’s organisational restructure or financial situation.

She said Tristar’s previously contracted doctor in the area had obtained his Fellowship and was at a stage in his career where he was free to set up practice anywhere in Australia without restrictions.

“The GP chose to relocate to Melbourne, as occurs with the majority of GPs at this level of specialty,” she said.

“It is very rare that small communities will retain or attract GPs with Fellowship or General Registration.

“The Dunmunkle region is one example of the issues being faced by small communities across Australia.”

Mrs Gardner said Tristar planned to remain in communities where it provided bulk-billing services.

“Our whole restructure has been focused on sustaining these services and we’re not going anywhere,” she said.

“Restructure has seen us close clinics but only where government policy has prevented us from placing a doctor in these clinics.

“In Dunmunkle’s case we’re trying to recruit for these towns, but in the current circumstance we’re restricted. 

“It is a viable practice for one doctor but under restrictions we also need to appoint a supervising doctor and supporting two GPs is not viable.”

Business model

Mrs Gardner said government policy changes through the Department of Immigration had impacted heavily on Tristar’s business model and had led to the internal business restructure.

She said changes had led to ‘significant’ increases in investment required by the private organisation to support international medical graduates obtain medical Board Registration in Australia.

“Our remote and regional communities unable to retain unrestricted doctors rely heavily on doctors who are obligated to provide services to regional and remote Australia for several years,” she said.

“Each International Medical Graduate requires Tristar to outlay a significant investment to facilitate the doctor in obtaining a visa.

“The time it takes for the Department of Immigration to process a suitably qualified applicant can take 18 months. Our suitably qualified overseas trained GPs are taking up opportunities in countries such as Canada and New Zealand because they can establish medical practices in these countries in one quarter of the time at a quarter of the cost.

“Once Tristar outlays the significant cost per applicant and are fortunate not to lose the applicant to another country it can then support the eligible doctor’s pathway to Medical Board Registration. 

“Board registration restrictions on supervision requirements then prevent Tristar from placing the doctor in a remote or smaller regional community.

“Having said all this, Tristar continues to invest in GP recruitment and expects to have about seven GPs available to commence their general practice in larger regional areas that are in need of more doctors within coming months.”

Restructure

Mrs Gardner said Tristar’s restructure process was 90 percent complete.

“Without the organisational restructure Tristar would have no option than to commence charging out-of-pocket fees,” she said.

“We chose to restructure – rather than charge patients – many of whom are unable to afford to pay $70 or more each time they need to see a doctor.

“Tristar is the only provider left in the majority of our communities who continue to provide bulk-billed primary-health care.”

Mrs Gardner said Tristar was hopeful of a resolution at a government level.

“Tristar is a symptom of the crisis occurring in regional and rural Australia due to limited political will to address the issues.”

Member for Mallee Anne Webster is set to meet with Tristar representatives in Mildura to discuss circumstances.

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