The Rural Doctors Association of Australia (RDAA), Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) and Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) all praised yesterday's announcement by the Federal Health Minister, Nicola Roxon.

They say the increase will take the total number of GP training places provided through the program to 360.

The program enables junior doctors to undertake short-term, supervised training placements in general practices.

"This really practical measure will give more junior doctors a chance to experience just how rewarding general practice can be," RDAA president, Dr Peter Rischbieth, said.

"And given that many of these training placements are provided in rural locations, there is an added bonus that more junior doctors will get to experience life as a rural doctor and why it makes for such a rewarding career path.

"It is particularly pleasing to see the Federal Government reverse its earlier budget decision to reduce the number of GP training places under the program, as we have been warning that such a move would significantly hinder any efforts to get more doctors to the bush."

ACRRM vice president, Associate Professor Ruth Stewart, said the her group had been calling for an expansion of the PGPPP for some years.

"Ideally, we would like to see even more GP training places funded through this program, as it has real potential to interest more junior doctors in general practice and rural practice—areas of medicine where there are huge doctor shortages," she said.

"It also has real potential to relieve some of the current junior doctor training bottlenecks we are seeing in the metropolitan hospitals."