Wagga’s share in $67 million to establish five regional medical schools has yet to be revealed despite a federal funding announcement for the rural health network
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Federal Regional Services Minister Bridget McKenzie announced on Friday that the Murray-Darling Medical Schools Network would include $22 million for a school at Orange.
However, the University of NSW’s budget to establish its school at Wagga was not set out.
Both the University of NSW and Health Department did not respond to requests to clarify Wagga’s funding level and Riverina MP Michael McCormack declined to comment.
Senator McKenzie said the medical schools to be located across regional Victoria and NSW would aim to attract and retain doctors who understood “local issues and concerns”.
“The current model of medical training, which predominantly happens in the cities, will be turned on its head. The majority of training will happen in the regions and rotations to metropolitan areas for specialist experience kept to a minimum,” she said.
The five medical schools will see 140 students begin their medical studies across the Murray-Darling region each year with a plan to start enrolments in 2021.
The government originally unveiled its intention to fund the schools in the May budget.
Riverina Labor candidate Mark Jeffreson said the money for the schools was a step in the right direction but he had concerns about the Coalition’s long term health policy.
“We are the party of putting more money into health so we are never going to argue with it,” he said.
“The significant issue is the millions of dollars that get ripped out with only a few million put back.
“If they’re going to put money into rural health, we’re all for it. The problem is what will happen after four years.”
Riverina Greens candidate Michael Bayles said the government needed to do more to close the rural health gap.
“There’s a $1 billion shortfall in trying to meet the needs of drug and alcohol treatment,” he said.