Shepparton has recently received a boost to its healthcare services with the opening of Shepparton GP Medical Practice and Acupuncture Clinic.
The clinic, located at 31 Wyndham St, provides comprehensive healthcare facilities for all age groups and operates on weekdays from 8:30am to 5:30pm.
The clinic’s general practitioners are brothers Dr Rashid Khan and Dr Basit Khan.
“We are not new to the area because we moved to Shepparton from Queensland in 2011,” Rashid said.
“I worked in Echuca for two years, then five years in Kyabram, and around five years in Benalla.
“My brother (Basit) spent six years in Kyabram and almost six years in Benalla.
“During this time, we’ve been living in Shepparton.”
Rashid said he and Basit saw the need for another clinic in the area due to the shortage of general practitioners across Australia and the pressing demand for their services.
“It is a good opportunity for us to open a clinic so that we can serve the local community,” Rashid said.
“We had a clinic in Benalla, but we closed that one down to open this one.”
He said that in addition to serving the community, their goal was to alleviate the burden on Goulburn Valley Health.
“If you walk in and we have an available slot, we will see a patient; otherwise, we will book an appointment for you,” Rashid said.
He added that as a private GP practice, Shepparton GP Medical Practice and Acupuncture Clinic aimed to provide high-quality care while addressing the rising cost of doing business.
“Unfortunately, in order to make this business financially viable, we have added a little bit of an amount out of pocket, about $30 out of pocket,” Rashid said.
Rashid added that the clinic’s primary focus was on preventive health.
“We offer comprehensive healthcare facilities for all age groups,” he said.
“Every age group has their own health checks and healthcare needs. For young people, we address concerns like STDs and provide preventive treatments.
“For elderly individuals, we specialise in managing chronic medical conditions such as diabetes, heart problems and high blood pressure.
“We also offer women’s health services, including pregnancy care, and provide paediatric care for children, including childhood immunisations and vaccinations.”
The brothers originally hail from Pakistan but completed most of their formal training in Australia.
“We migrated to Australia in 2009,” Rashid said.
“We did our basic medical qualifications in Pakistan, but we are professional GPs in Australia, and we did our fellowship with the Royal College of General Practice.
“We were employed by Queensland Health, then an opportunity came for us to work in the Goulburn Valley. We heard good reviews, including that it’s a multicultural society.”
While the brothers are currently the only general practitioners at the clinic, more will be joining soon.
“Many of our family members are doctors; our younger sister is also a doctor,” Rashid said.
“She’s working at GV Health, and her husband is a doctor there too.
“They will join us here, so we’ll be a family practice.”