Rural GPs offered $12,000 compensation after fight over hospital contracts

It's been claimed their hospital jobs were 'less favourable than just about any other medical role' in South Australia
Dr Peter Rischbieth
Dr Peter Rischbieth.

Hundreds of GPs covering shifts in rural hospitals will get to choose between hourly rates or fee-for-service payments under an overhaul aiming to attract and retain more rural doctors in SA.  

They will also receive $12,000 payments for signing new rural hospital contracts, rising to $50,000 for working in the most remote parts of the state.

The money is compensation for 18 months of uncertainty as the State Government, AMA SA and the RDA SA fought a drawn-out industrial dispute.

RDA SA president Dr Peter Rischbieth said the previous remuneration based on fee-for-service made the hospital jobs “less favourable than just about any other medical role in the state”.