Regional, Remote and Indigenous Gastroenterology Care: An Australian Perspective - Part 1 Overview and Challenges

Regional, rural, and remote patients often face increasing<br/>challenges not experienced by patients who live in metropolitan regions (Stewart, 2023). Patients needing gastroenterology care are no exception to this, with many patients facing poor outcomes due to their regionality. Australia is a vast country with an area of 7,688,287 square kilometers, and much of Australia being sparsely inhabited. In Australia, the majority of the population (73%)<br/>lives in and around capital cities (Australian Institute of Health and<br/>Welfare, 2024). This leaves the remainder of Australians living in inner<br/>regional, outer regional, remote, and very remote regions of the country, numbering approximately seven million people (Australian Institute<br/>of Health and Welfare, 2024). The size of Australia, coupled with its<br/>demography, proves a challenge for the delivery of healthcare. In this<br/>two-part column, we will discuss here the challenges in regional care<br/>delivery by highlighting one region within Australia which faces unique<br/>challenges. We will also highlight healthcare challenges for Indigenous<br/>Australians including access to care and culturally safe healthcare needs<br/>among others. Finally, we will explore proposed solutions to address<br/>the gap in gastroenterology healthcare delivery, current efforts, and<br/>nursing implications for practice. Ideally, this discussion will foster a<br/>basis for addressing regional, remote, and indigenous gastroenterology<br/>care inspired by this Australian experience.