Health experts are calling it a “desperate attempt” to Band-Aid a larger problem within the health sector.
Australian Medical Association Queensland president Maria Boulton said the doctor shortage was due to the “neglected state” of the health care system.
Boulton pointed the finger at the state government, which has responsibility for healthcare, but Labor was blaming the former federal government.
“There was chronic under spending in health care by the Morrison government,” Queensland Environment Minister Meaghan Scanlon said.
“Some of this does fall under the remit of the Commonwealth when it comes to university qualifications.”
Fly-in doctors are being offered thousands of dollars a day to fill gaps across the state.
The total bill was more than $100 million last year.
Opposition Leader David Crisafulli said it was “costing the state government money that could be used elsewhere in the health crisis.”
“When a young doctor chooses to go to a regional area, let’s make it a pathway towards a specialist sooner,” he said.
Currently, Toowoomba is after psychiatrists who are paid $2000 a day. Obstetrics and gynecology consultants can earn a little more than that in Far North Queensland.
Boulton said the issue wouldn’t be solved overnight and more commitment was needed to ensure enough doctors were being trained.