Feds boost funding for regional junior doctor program

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BY CARLI WILLIS

A new Commonwealth-funded junior doctor rotation program will further boost doctor numbers across regional and rural Queensland, Queensland Health says.

In a statement to Torres News, the federal Department of Health and Aged care said rotations had increased yearon-year nationally, with 440 rotations in 2022 expected to increase to 800 in 2025.

Under the new consolidated structure, the state was set to receive an increase in funds of more than $800,000 per year.

Previous programs – the Rural Junior Doctors Training and Innovation Fund (RJDTIF) and RJDTIF Rural Generalists in Queensland programs – were not administered by Queensland Health.

Under the new John Flynn Prevocational Doctor Program junior doctors would be administered by Queensland Hospital and Health Services, and would complete their rotation at a rural private General Practice or approved primary care facility.

Queensland Health said doctor numbers for the Torres and Cape would be finalised by the end of August.