NT physicians say next Northern Territory Government must address health workforce shortages, improve Indigenous children’s health, and combat climate change

7 August 2024

The Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) is calling on all parties to commit to key reforms that help address health workforce shortages, improve health outcomes for children and young people, and take meaningful steps toward combating climate change, ahead of the Northern Territory elections.

RACP President Professor Jennifer Martin said that health reforms should be a key focus for the next Territory Government.

“The next government must address the growing challenges faced by the Territory’s healthcare system as a matter of priority.

“This includes taking concrete steps that help strengthen the Territory’s health workforce, investing in climate change mitigation measures, and introducing reforms that help boost health outcomes for children and young people.

“Escalating healthcare workforce shortages are leading to increased levels of burnout amongst the current physicians and hold the potential to affect the health of Territorians.

“Unless effective measures are taken urgently, these shortages will continue to grow, further straining the health system and reducing access to quality specialist care,” Professor Martin said.

The RACP is calling on all parties and candidates to commit to key reforms aimed at supporting and bolstering the Territory’s workforce including:

  1. Attracting and retaining physicians and trainees

  2. Investing in tailored solutions to boost the number of physicians in specialities with low numbers

  3. Boosting initiatives to maintain medical excellence, such as continuing professional development and high-quality training.

Dr Kirsty Neal, General Medicine and Endocrine Specialist and a spokesperson for the RACP’s NT Committee, said that to address existing inequities and improve health outcomes for Indigenous children and young people, the next government must take a health-first approach to youth justice and invest in the early years.

“First Nations children in the Territory continue to be under-represented in the early learning system and over-represented in the Territory’s criminal justice system. This has a direct impact on their health outcomes.

“To truly close the gap and meaningfully address the existing health inequities that continue to impact First Nations children, the next Territory Government must undertake vital, comprehensive reforms.

“This includes increasing Indigenous children’s participation in early learning by making it more accessible and affordable and taking a health-first approach to youth justice,” Dr Neal said.

The College has also stressed the importance of investing in bold climate change mitigation measures to help ensure the long-term health and well-being of Territorians who are especially vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

“We’re already starting to see just how detrimental extreme heat events, which are a direct result of climate change, can be for the health of Territorians.

“Climate change is also exacerbating the spread of vector-borne diseases, and unless bold and urgent action is taken to combat it, it will continue to pose a significant challenge to both the health outcomes of Territorians and the healthcare system.

“We call on all parties and candidates to commit to the key reforms outlined in the RACP’s Northern Territory Election Statement [1], to help ensure the continued delivery of world-class health care in the Territory,” RACP President Professor Jennifer Martin said.

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