People in very remote areas of Australia were about 30 per cent less likely to undergo coronary angioplasty than those living in major cities in 2005-06, according to a new Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) report.

“This finding is particularly noteworthy as death rates from coronary heart disease were up to 40 per cent higher in remote areas compared to the cities,” report author Sally Bullock said.

People living in very remote areas were only about two-thirds as likely to have hip replacement surgery as those in the city and half as likely to have a myringotomy (surgery to the ear).

But they were almost four times more likely to undergo dialysis.

“Higher separation rates for all remote residents (are) consistent with higher death rates due to diabetes in these areas and higher death rates due to renal failure in very remote areas,” the report said.

Dental care was a major area where rural Australians missed out.

People aged 25 to 44 living outside major cities were only half as likely to visit a dentist, compared with city dwellers.

In 2005, there were just 20 dentists for every 100,000 remote Australians, compared with 59 for the same number of city dwellers. In the eight years to 2005, the number of doctors rose by one-quarter, but the number of employed nurses increased by just 10 per cent.

In 2005 there were an estimated 335 full-time equivalent doctors for every 100,000 people in major cities and 181 in inner regional areas.

The ratio was only 153 in outer regions and 148 in remote areas.

“This variation reflects the lower number of specialists practising in more remote areas, the report said.