31 October 2026
Victoria is facing a growing healthcare challenge with workforce availability and mounting pressure on the healthcare system leaving many regional Victorians struggling to access the specialist care they need.
In an election statement launched today, the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) is calling on all political parties to commit to practical reforms that strengthen Victoria's medical workforce, improve access to health care, and address growing inequity across metropolitan, regional and rural communities.
The RACP statement says the gaps in healthcare experienced by regional and rural communities must be addressed.
College Dean and infectious diseases physician in Victoria, Associate Professor Kudzai Kanhutu says, “Victoria's healthcare system is under extreme pressure, leaving physicians burnt out and everyday Australians are paying the price with growing barriers to care.
“The impacts are being felt strongly in rural and regional Victoria where patients are facing long wait times, limited access to specialist care, and, in many cases, needing to travel long distances to receive care that should be available closer to home.”
The RACP is calling for greater investment and practical solutions to combat the significant issues faced in regional and rural areas. This includes sustainable specialist training pathways for regional and rural areas, support for physicians, including initiatives to improve physician wellbeing and reduce burnout, increased retention measures, and strengthening appropriate virtual care options.
“Far too many people living in regional and rural Victoria are missing out on timely specialist care, leading to delayed diagnoses, more complex health conditions and poorer health outcomes that could often be avoided,” Associate Professor Kanhutu said.
The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing’s recent Whole of Medical Workforce Supply and Demand Compendium Report found that Victoria could face a shortage of more than 2,509 medical specialists by 2033, equivalent to around 10 per cent of the specialist workforce.
“We need to build a healthcare workforce that is not only strong enough to support Victorians’ needs but one that is distributed across the state,” Associate Professor Kanhutu said.
“Every Victorian deserves access to timely, high-quality specialist care as close to home as possible.”
The RACP is committed to working with the incoming Victorian government to ensure practical solutions are available to strengthen the healthcare workforce and improve health outcomes for all communities across the state.
The RACP Victorian Election Statement can be found here.