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Rural Health System Resources

BY RURAL PEOPLE FOR RURAL PEOPLE

A theory of how rural health services contribute to community sustainability

Authors

Farmer J, Prior M, Taylor J

Description

This paper examines how health services contribute to rural community sustainability. It establishes a framework for measuring the additional contributions of health services to rural communities over and above the direct provision of healthcare services; that is, their added- value contributions.

Why is this useful for rural and remote people?

Health services add value to communities above and beyond the provision of health care. In rural towns, health care is typically the largest or second largest employer. The higher wages typically earned by health workers is an important contributor to local economic activity as these wages are spent in the local economy on housing, retail and other goods and services. Towns with health services are more likely to be able to attract and retain teachers, police officers, paramedics and indeed other health professionals. This has a multiplier effect on total population growth, which in turn influences inbound business investment to service the needs of growing populations. Understanding the wider and critical role of health service as a major plank of economic and community development is important for rural and remote communities to enable them to engage governments more holistically around investment strategies. In many ways, investment in health care has a larger impact on the social and economic development of communities, reducing demand for government investment in social welfare payments, social services support, justice services, family and related services and helps communities to become self sustaining. This data can be used by rural towns to engage with ministers and departments outside health to seek their help in influencing health to increase investment in rural health care, or to secure greater investment in health care from departments with responsibility for rural development (recognising an investment in health is a cost-effective and reliable investment in rural social and economic development).

Suggested Citation

Farmer J, Prior M, Taylor J (2012) A theory of how rural health services contribute to community sustainability. Social Science & Medicine, 75, 1903- 1911.

at

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Armidale West NSW 2350

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