WHO-sponsored Special Edition on Rural Proofing for Health

Universal access to health services and universal health coverage are needed to achieve good health for all, yet rural communities face a variety of access barriers. As part of an effort to 'rural proof' health systems, it is therefore imperative to identify and act on the factors limiting access to health services by rural and Indigenous communities. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the wide range of access barriers faced by rural and remote communities and discusses the potential for barrier assessments to contribute evidence for rural proofing of national health policies, strategies, plans and programs.

Although most countries struggle to deliver adequate healthcare resources and services to rural communities, resulting in poorer health outcomes for rural-dwelling people, little attention has been paid to the need for policy to address inequities in rural and urban service delivery. Rural proofing, the systematic application of a rural lens across policies to ensure they adequately account for the needs, contexts, and opportunities of rural areas, provides a strategy to ensure rural contexts are fully considered when designing health programs and interventions. Young healthcare professionals (HCPs) will be called upon to advocate for and lead the implementation of rural proofing efforts, so their perceptions, ideas, and knowledge of rural proofing are integral to the future of rural health care. This Original Research article explores the knowledge and understanding of rural proofing among young rural HCPs from around the world.

Addressing rural health issues requires concerted efforts by governments and other organisations to improve the health outcomes of rural populations. It would appear self-evident that young healthcare professionals (HCPs) should be attuned to this and be ready to play a meaningful role. It is, therefore, important to understand their perspectives on the current state of rural health care, the future of rural health care, and their future role in making a difference in the lives of people living in rural communities. This Original Research article is the first to explore rural health issues globally from the perspectives of young HCPs.