Restricted choice, less value for money and a lack of access to resources are what the people of rural and remote Australia face.
A recent report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare is exposing the inequality,with a recent report showing almost a doubling of privately funded public hospital admissions over major cities.
Interim CEO of the National Rural Health Alliance, Mark Diamond, says the data is indicative of the lack of access these communities have to private health benefits.
"Clearly private hospitals aren't located in every community and therefore their option is to actually be admitted as a private patient in a public hospital."
Mr Diamond also added that it is the responsibility of the private health organisations to ensure greater health care benefits in these communities.
"There either needs to be a reduction in premiums that reflect their restricted opportunity to access benefits...or more access provided to private services in rural and remote Australia," he said.
"...I guess what we're saying is there's an opportunity for the private health system, as represented by the funds, to actually support practitioners in the field to be able to provide more services across a broader geographic area."
