August 6th 2024

By Ailsa Colquhoun

Rural Europe calls for better rural proofing

Rural leaders have issued a six-point call to action to European governments, policy makers and rural stakeholders to develop bespoke rural-proofed access to good quality services for rural people.

The CTA, issued by EURIPA (the European Rural and Isolated Practitioners Association), calls for:

• Co-creation of healthier futures. Treat rural communities and organisations as key stakeholders and equal partners with views to share
• Invest in undergraduate and postgraduate rural training pathways for healthcare workers
• Workforce development: increased salaries and benefits, improved rural healthcare infrastructure, flexible work arrangements and efficient use of digital technologies
• Cross-sector collaboration: Address the social determinants of health
• Rural health research, to identify population health needs of rural communities, measure impact and outcomes
• Rural proofing to become part of a formal national framework.