The Rural Medical Workforce Centre will open at Mersey Community Hospital next year

The Rural Medical Workforce Centre, which will be located at Mersey Community Hospital in the state's North-West, was promised by the state government in April 2021 to help address a decline in rural GP services in the state.

Health Minister Jeremy Rockliff said the design of the new workforce centre was underway, and would offer "attractive posts for trainee rural doctors by giving them the opportunity to develop skills across a range of specialties".

Among the training opportunities for doctors will be emergency medicine, rural general practice, anaesthetics, paediatrics, and obstetrics and gynaecology.

READ MORE: Youngtown Blockbuster Bashing: Attackers 'too drunk' to recall third man

Mr Rockliff said the development, which will also include upgrades to existing training facilities at the MCH, would support the recruitment of more rural doctors.

"We know doctors who have a positive training experience in rural locations are more likely to live and work in rural communities in the future," he said.

The MCH has also seen three new rural generalist doctors appointed, who will complete four 13-week rotations through rural primary care rotation, obstetrics, anaesthetics and paediatrics.

The project development follows calls by the Rural Doctors Association of Australia, and its Tasmanian branch, to invest in rural generalist pathways for the state's doctors to address locum engagement issues and funding options for rural health care.

RDAT vice-president Dr Ben Dodds said he was pleased with the commitments by the state government.

MOST READ: Errol Stewart makes crude remark whilst discussing the AFL stadium possibility

"I think the government is turning their eye to actually improving and investing in general practice that will actually help a lot of the systems issues within the state's health department down the line," Dr Dodds said.

However he said the commitment to improved rural health infrastructure and funding would need to continue.

"We need to look at a whole of country - state and Commonwealth - bipartisan approach that goes beyond the three year election cycle in terms of funding commitments, and actually look at major reform to how we fund our health services in Australia," he said.

Dr Dodds comments come as RDAA president Dr Megan Belot finishes a round of meetings this week with federal Health Minister Mark Butler to discuss fast-tracking $140 million set aside for reforming the Workforce Incentive Program to encourage doctors to remain rural.

Dr Belot said discussions with Mr Butler had been "well received", and he had been receptive to developing new strategies and policies for rural and remote health care.

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: