One of regional South Australia's biggest communities is in critical need of more doctors, but a recent change should make it easier for it to attract talent.
Port Augusta, in Upper Spencer Gulf, is the latest town in SA to be declared a Distribution Priority Area (DPA).
It means the town will now be able to source GPs from overseas rather than relying on Australian-trained doctors.
The Federal Government requires international medical graduates who are GPs to work in a DPA before they can access Medicare.
The Flinders and Far North Doctors' Association has previously warned the shortage in Port Augusta was so severe that lives were at risk.
"Port Augusta desperately requires more GPs to support our community and to reduce the workloads of existing GPs," said mayor Brett Benbow.
"Whilst this is only one piece of the puzzle in attempting to attract additional GPs to Port Augusta, the news is being gratefully received."
City-country divide
Local MP Rowan Ramsey said Australian GPs preferred to live in cities rather than head out into the bush.
"We really, really struggle to get Australian-trained doctors to come and work in the country," he said.
"We've got too many in the city and not enough in the country and this probably annoys me, it disappoints me.
"It makes me a bit angry but we're doing everything we can to try and address our situation.
"For some almost inexplicable reason Port Augusta had been not able to tick the box on what we call a Distribution Priority Area."
Population boost
The Rural Doctors Association has welcomed the town's new classification and said it would help keep people healthy.
State President Peter Rischbieth said there was an opportunity the reclassification could lead to a population boost in the town.
"[There are] many situations where doctors from overseas come and stay in their country towns for the rest of their medical practicing career in Australia," he said.
"Whereas others, for various reasons, move to other regional towns or the city.
"We also have to recognise that there are other towns across our country that need more doctors with the right skills and the right training."
