Greg Hunt has defended the Federal Government’s scheme to put junior doctors in rural general practices, declaring it will be “safe” for doctors and patients.

He also says recent criticisms of the scheme are a misrepresentation.

ACRRM and the RACGP have sounded the alarm about the More Doctors for Rural Australia Program, which allows junior doctors to obtain Medicare provider numbers to work in workforce shortage areas as non-VR GPs.

The program is being marketed as a “try-before-you-buy” option, giving the doctors up to four years’ experience in general practice without committing to GP registrar training.