Policy on Rural Practice
Executive summary
Recommendations for Rural Practice and Rural Health
1. Preparation for rural practice
2. The development, maintenance and enhancement of the skills of rural doctors
3. Recruitment and retention of doctors in rural practice
4. Meeting community needs
5. A framework for rural health care
Introduction
Principles of rural health care
The strategic framework for better rural health care
1. Preparation for rural practice
1.1 Strategies for increasing student interest in rural practice
1.2 Strategies for making undergraduate learning more rurally orientated
1.3 Strategies to integrate undergraduate education more effectively
2. The development, maintenance and enhancement of the skills of rural doctors
2.1 Strategies to increase skills through rural vocational training
2.2 Strategies for continuing medical education
3. Recruitment and retention of doctors in rural practice
3.1 Strategies to enhance financial incentives
3.2 Strategies for sustainable work practices
3.3 Strategies for dealing with the international mobility of rural doctors
3.4 Strategies for structuring a career path in rural practice
3.5 Strategies to support the families of rural doctors
4. Meeting community needs
4.1 Strategies to achieve balanced gender mix
4.2 Strategies to provide appropriate practice and skills mix
4.3 Strategies to improve a team approach
4.4 Strategies to ensure the appropriate implementation of information technology
5. A framework for rural health care
5.1 Strategies to establish rural health administrative structures
5.2 Strategies for the allocation of financial resources
5.3 Strategies to increase rural health research
5.4 Strategies to enhance development of rural doctor issues
5.5 Strategies to enhance representation of rural doctor issues
6. Future
WONCA Working Party on Rural Practice
5. To address issues of importance to rural family doctors including developing effective
