Attracting and retaining primary care providers in remote rural areas. As members of EFPC you can help to answer these questions

Many countries have problems in attracting and retaining primary care workers in remote rural areas. This is not restricted to large countries; also small countries experience these problems.

The Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research (NIVEL)  is currently making a background report for WHO based on the literature on rural primary care. The aim of the report is to describe the problem definition, the causes of the problem, the consequences for access and quality of care and possible solutions.

We have some questions relating to rural primary care in Europe. As members of EFPC you can help to answer these questions.

– Is there a problem with access to primary care in remote rural areas in your country?

– Is there a problem with quality of primary care in remote rural areas in your country?

– Does your country have specific programmes or interventions regarding rural primary care? You can think of specific policies to attract primary care workers to remote rural areas.

– Are there reports or policy notes on primary care in remote rural areas in your country? And if so could you send us a copy?

We would be greatly helped with your answers. You can send them by email to m.bosmans@nivel.nl

Mark Bosmans

Peter Groenewegen

Ronals Batenburg