RURAL Australian's healthcare should not be compromised by poor mobile connectivity, the National Rural Health Alliance (NRHA) believes.
Speaking at the launch of the NRHA's 2019 Federal Election Charter, CEO Mark Diamond, said funding pledges made by the two major political parties to eradicate mobile blackspots fell short of what is required to ensure Australian's living in regional and remote areas have suitable access to digital health.
Diamond, said the while the Coalition and Labor's pledges to invest $220 million and $245 million respectively, in improving the nation's mobile network were welcome, more funding was required.
"We have costed what it will take to provide the sorts of connectivity that will improve access to health services for communities in outback Australia, and it is $400 million," he said.
"Governments need to do more if they are serious about connecting rural, regional and remote Australia into decent online healthcare.
"It is a fact that over 20% of the difference in health outcomes experienced by people in rural areas, compared to people living in metropolitan areas, is because they can't access timely, appropriate and affordable healthcare.
"Given regional and remote Australia is an economic generator for our country, that is simply not fair.
"This is not a political issue - it is a rural health issue and a real societal issue for all Australians.
"People in rural and remote communities, including mining towns and indigenous communities, deserve the same access to services such as health and education and we need the digital infrastructure and connectivity to make it happen.
"It doesn't matter who is in Government - they have the same responsibility to these communities as they do to metropolitan areas."
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