SUBSIDISED rent and even cars could be used to attract new general practitioners to Launceston, a Tasmanian medical recruitment expert has said.
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Dr Ross Lamplugh, of Hobart- based Ochre (medical) Recruitment, said some local councils had offered reduced rent and, in some cases, cars to attract new doctors.
But Launceston City Council general manager Frank Dixon said the council could not subsidise doctors' rent.
"We don't own properties that would be suitable for use by general practitioners," Mr Dixon said.
Dr Lamplugh said incentives were hard to distribute evenly.
"It's difficult because you can't offer the same incentives to everyone," he said.
The Department of Health and Human Services already offers European cars, overseas travel, mobile phones and entertainment credit cards as incentives to specialists in Tasmania's public hospitals.
Meanwhile, other Northern rural councils have developed incentives to attract doctors to their towns.
At St Marys, the local hospital auxiliary and the Break O'Day Council have spent $200,000 on one house and are looking at spending about the same amount for a second residence to attract doctors to the township.
Mayor Robert Legge said the role of his council was changing.
"Sooner or later local government is going to have to sit down and see its roles," Mr Legge said.
"In the country you have to take things into your own hands and we need doctors badly.
"We decided to be proactive."
Like a spoonful of sugar, the subsidised housing at St Marys will act as a major medical sweetener.
Mr Legge said the town was close to attracting new doctors for early 2010.
St Marys health services advocate Wendy Bantick welcomed the news, with caution.
"That's awesome," Mrs Bantick said.
"Now we just have to find the doctors."
Councils and community have also worked together successfully at Westbury.
On Thursday, the community's medical support group and Meander Valley Council secured a doctor, Annette Douglas, of Hobart, to start work next year.
Mayor Mark Shelton said Meander Valley Council would continue to work to get better medical services for the town.
On Wednesday, the West Australian branch of the Australian Medical Association offered a $3000 spotter's fee for people who attracted doctors to that state.
The Tasmanian AMA said it could not afford to offer incentives, but urged the State Government to consider the idea.
The State Government already invests $300,000 towards doctor recruitment and retention through GP Workforce.
