An ongoing metropolitan “geographic narcissism” in hospital training is continuing to intensify the doctor shortage in country areas, a leading rural GP has told a senate inquiry.

Dr Marco Giuseppin, chair of the AMA Council of Rural Doctors, also says an emphasis on credentials gained in the city encourages young doctors to seek out training in those settings rather than rural and remote areas.

“When focuses of leadership are based in metropolitan areas, decisions are often made that are counterproductive to rural and remote health,” Dr Giuseppin told the senate inquiry into GP services in rural areas on Thursday.

“We’re seeing this in an increasing amount in our hospital systems throughout Australia,” said Dr Giuseppin, a retrieval doctor with the Royal Australian Flying Doctor Service.