A health forum hosted by the group in late October featured guest speaker Dr Sue Harrison, who outlined the broken state of GP service provisions in Campaspe.
Voices for Nicholls spokesperson Dr Kate Burke said community conversations were facilitated by the group, with contributions from residents and experts.
On the night, former ERH chief executive Michael Delahunty said regional populations are afforded $850 less annually per person in health funding, or $17 million per year, when compared to metropolitan areas.
The forum heard the Medicare rebate is inadequate for GP survival, with most rural medical practices charging less than the recommended standard consult price, Dr Burke said.
It also heard of the flow on effects from a lack of GP availability in the region, particularly on local hospitals and allied health.
Health practitioners said people were presenting in accident and emergency departments for issues that could be treated by GP’s or virtual health services.
Dr Burke said the practitioners told the forum it costs about ten times more to treat a patient in hospital, and chronic conditions were less likely to be found and treated.
Committee for Echuca Moama chair Dr Cath Lees and Dr Harrison told the forum increasing rural GP numbers through training is a long-term task.
The shortage could be met if 30 per cent of graduates took up GP as their speciality, but only 12 per cent are doing so, they said.
Changes to rural work requirements for immigration purposes has also drastically reduced the profession’s rural supply.
Forum attendees said they agreed the regions’ health service issues were worsened by being in a politically safe seat at both state and federal levels.
The Voices for Nicholls movement aims to motivate community members to bring their issues to the attention of politicians and policymakers, Dr Burke said.
The group’s local organiser Christine Sebire said it was focusing on making sure people get to speak about what’s important to them.
“At the end of the day, the community gets a say on election day, and the more marginal a seat is, the more attention we get,” Ms Sebire said.
Voices for Nicholls is seeking an independent candidate for the electorate, and intends to consult any candidates for the seat.
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