ARGENTINA is facing the same shortage of health professionals in its regional areas as Australia, and has looked at one local initiative as a good place to start in trying to solve the problem.
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Three Argentinian medical academics have inspected the University of Newcastle’s Department of Rural Health facility at Tamworth hospital as part of a 10-day trip to Australia.
The three professors comprised a dermatologist, surgeon and specialist in telehealth.
They came with Victor Minichiello, conjoint professor with the University of Newcastle and emeritus professor at the University of New England.
Professor Minichiello said the Argentinians were impressed with the facilities, including the Tamworth Education Centre in Johnston St, and the clinical school and emergency department at Tamworth hospital.
Professor Minichiello is convener of this Argentina-Australia government project – part of which includes knowledge-sharing on rural health education between the two countries.
“(It’s about) showing the visitors how Australia has organised the delivery of medical education in regional Australia – and we think the University of Newcastle Department of Rural Health in Tamworth is a beacon in demonstrating how successful it’s been,” he said.
Argentinian dermatologist Professor Laris Carrera said her country’s government and universities were worried about the lack of “distribution” of doctors – and specialists in particular – in rural areas.
“Most of the population is localised in the big cities (in Argentina),” she said.
“We’re very interested in the organisation of the (Australian) health system.”
Professor Carrera said her country’s government and universities were worried about the lack of “distribution” of doctors – and specialists in particular – in rural areas.
