Regional Victorians look for health funding ahead of election

Regional Victorians and healthcare providers are calling for better access and funding to address health inequality ahead of the upcoming state election. According to population health data, people living in rural and regional areas have a lower life expectancy compared to those in Melbourne. The Victoria Alliance of Rural and Regional Community Health (ARRCH) chair, Sean Duffy, stated that people living in remote Victoria live between five and seven years less than those in Melbourne. The inequality in life expectancy is attributed to delayed healthcare response in the regions.

Duffy believes this is a challenging conversation to confront, as people in rural and regional Victoria face disadvantages in accessing emergency departments or ongoing treatment for chronic conditions. Limited access to specialist support is a significant issue due to the higher rates of chronic diseases, such as diabetes, respiratory conditions, and cardiac problems, as well as obesity in these areas. He advocates for a separate funding model to reduce the inequity in life expectancies.

Delivering services in rural Victoria is more expensive and harder to recruit professionals, according to Duffy. Currently, less than 1% of the total health budget in Victoria is spent on community health. If this ratio were increased to 3%, it could prevent hospital admissions and improve the lives of people.

For homeless individuals, a regional postcode exacerbates health outcome inequities. The smaller health problems quickly escalate due to difficulties in keeping appointments, lack of reliable transport, and prioritizing immediate needs like shelter and food over healthcare. According to the 2021 Census, approximately 30,000 Victorians are homeless. The Council to Homeless Persons is advocating for a Victorian homelessness strategy to address these issues comprehensively.