A significant boost for rural medical services is on the cards if Premier Peter Gutwein and his team are re-elected.
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Committing to a long-term contract with the Royal Flying Doctor Service, the Premier and the RFDS signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Launceston on Thursday, extending support for the service.
The current contract between RFDS and the state government was expected to expire in June next year, with previous contracts in place for a three to five-year period.
But that level of support could soon be doubled.
"Within 30 days of forming government should we be re-elected as a majority government, we will commence good-faith negotiations with the Royal Flying Doctor Service to negotiate up to a 10-year strategic partnership," Mr Gutwein said.
The MoU included a $300,000 commitment in 2021-22 for oral health services in regional Tasmania, with an initial focus on the West Coast, Huon Valley and Central Tasmania.
RFDS chief executive John Kirwan said it would allow the service to continue the work it had delivered in the state for more than 60 years.
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"We also need to build a base in Hobart, and they are large capital investments, that is why we need a long-term contract to make sure we can manage those properly, and build those assets for Tasmania," Mr Kirwan said.
According to the MoU, if the negotiations were successful, the new contract would begin in July next year, and would not only cover aero-medical services, but help provide the necessary facilities, aircrafts, and pilots.
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