Accessibility and human rights, instead of rigid funding models, should be the priorities when planning health care services for rural and remote Australia says Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) Professor of Rural and Remote Pharmacy, Patrick Ball. “A model of health care funding for rural and remote Australia should be developed based on fundamental human rights and access to services rather than ‘bricks and mortar’,” Professor Patrick Ball said. The CSU academic studied two communities in central west NSW between 2006 and 2008 as part of his examination of the provision of health services outside metropolitan Australia. “We have the evidence to show that what is needed by rural and remote areas is more flexibility in allowing individual communities to meet their health needs, and more emphasis on access to services, rather than what hospital and which health facilities are located where. Albury can play a crucial role in providing back-up services that cannot be delivered on the doorstep.” Professor Patrick Ball will present a free public lecture on his research from 6pm in Albury on Wednesday 11 May.