Sustainability Concerns Raised During RACGP Visit to Remote WA Town
11 Jun 2026
RACGP Vice-President and WA Chair Dr Ramya Raman travelled more than 1,500 kilometres from Perth to meet local healthcare providers and discuss key challenges facing the region’s health services.
During her visit to clinics including Panaceum Karratha and Sonic HealthPlus Karratha, Dr Raman spoke with GPs about issues such as assignment of benefit changes, housing shortages and recent Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) rebate adjustments.
She said changes to assignment of benefit rules, due to begin on 1 July, have already raised concerns among local doctors, particularly those working in Aboriginal community controlled health organisations.
Dr Raman said GPs in the region are worried about increased administrative burden and regulatory barriers that could affect service delivery.
She also noted that workforce housing remains a major issue, with many clinicians struggling to secure affordable accommodation in the area.
Funding was another key concern raised during the visit. Dr Raman said the recent 2.6% MBS rebate increase has not kept pace with inflation, rising staff wages and increasing practice costs.
She said many GPs feel the current funding levels are not enough to support sustainable healthcare delivery in rural and remote communities.
Her visit came shortly after a clinic in Kalbarri, another remote WA town, announced its closure, with financial pressures and Medicare indexation cited as contributing factors.
Dr Raman also delivered an education session on perimenopause and menopause management, as part of a partnership between RACGP WA and Rural Health West aimed at supporting healthcare workers in regional areas.
Sustainability Concerns Raised During RACGP Visit to Remote WA Town
Source: newsGP (Royal Australian College of General Practitioners)