Data released last month by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) shows that Aussies living in rural and remote areas often have poorer health outcomes than those who live in the major metro areas.
The data showed 28 per cent of Australians (around seven million) live outside the capital cities and in general have higher rates of hospitalisations, deaths and injuries and also have poorer access to, and use of, primary health care services.
Rural communities tend to be older than urban ones, with over-65s making up around 22.1 per cent of rural populations but only 15.5 per cent in the cities.
People living outside the major cities recorded higher rates of chronic conditions such as arthritis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and mental health problems.
The AIHW found people living in remote areas can face significant barriers to accessing and using health services. These can include geographic distance, limited infrastructure and higher costs.
“The additional time and transportation costs to access health care services also means people in remote and very remote areas may delay access to preventive and primary health care and rely on hospital care to have their needs met,” the AIHW says.
It seems we’re leaving our rural communities behind when it comes to their health. How do you think we can solve this problem?
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