Every rural practice is unique with its own challenges and rewards. A variety
of definitions is used around the world depending on local context. In
Australia, the RACGP Faculty of Rural Medicine defines rural practice as
medical practice outside urban areas, where the location of the practice
obliges some general practitioners to have, or to acquire, procedural and other
skills not usually required in urban practice.
There continues to be a worldwide shortage of family doctors (general
practitioners) in rural and remote areas, and in particular
doctors with the necessary skills and knowledge to work effectively and
comfortably in these areas. In less well developed countries the majority of
the population is located in rural areas that may lack basic health
requirements such as clean water, adequate food and shelter, and where at best
they have limited access to modern medical services. Developed countries also
have significant shortages of rural family doctors, even in countries where
there is an overall over supply of doctors.
People living in remote and rural communities require the security of ready
access to medical care at times of serious illness or injury. In addition,
doctors and hospitals in rural communities are important to the local economic
and social fabric. Often the health status of special needs groups is worse in
rural than metropolitan areas. These include the poor, the elderly, women and
indigenous people. Establishment of family doctor services supported by
hospitals and other health facilities provide the basis for developing primary
health care and health promotion programs.
It is well recognised that the provision of medical services by broadly trained
generalist family physicians is more cost effective than a range of specialist
practitioners and others providing primary care. In addition, for developing
countries, improvements in health status and economic development are closely
linked. Consequently, it is important that all nations adopt specific policies
and programs aimed at improving rural health services through increasing the
numbers of broadly skilled family physicians located in rural and remote areas.