A new report from the National Rural Health Alliance has highlighted a significant difference in healthcare spending between people living in regional Australia and those living in major cities.

The report found that rural Australians receive approximately $1,200 less in healthcare spending per person each year than residents of metropolitan areas. In smaller country towns, the difference increases to more than $6,000 per person annually.

The overall healthcare spending gap between regional and metropolitan Australia has grown to more than $9 billion a year.

The findings have raised concerns about the difficulties faced by people living in remote communities, particularly those who need specialist medical treatment that is not available locally.

In North West Queensland, residents often have to travel long distances to access specialist appointments, diagnostic services and hospital treatment. These journeys can create additional expenses for patients and their families.

Travel costs, accommodation and time away from work can make accessing healthcare particularly difficult for people already experiencing financial pressure.

National Rural Health Alliance chief executive Susi Tegen said the cost of travelling for medical treatment was forcing some people in rural communities to go without care.

The organisation has called for stronger action to address the funding gap and improve healthcare access outside Australia's major metropolitan centres.

Queensland Health Minister Tim Nicholls' spokesperson said the state government had allocated $140 million to the Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme for the current financial year.

The spokesperson also pointed to a 32 per cent increase in the private vehicle subsidy, which is intended to help eligible patients with travel expenses when they need treatment away from home.

However, the report has renewed questions about whether existing support is sufficient for people living in smaller towns and remote areas.

Healthcare access is an important issue for regional communities because distances between towns and major medical facilities can be substantial. People requiring repeated specialist appointments may face ongoing travel expenses and disruptions to their daily lives.

The report's findings underline the need to consider population distribution, travel distances and local medical services when planning Australia's healthcare funding.

The National Rural Health Alliance is calling for urgent attention to the difference in healthcare spending so that people living outside major cities can access appropriate treatment without facing additional financial barriers.