Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced two "Medicare urgent care clinics" promised by Labor for the Northern Territory at last year's election will be up and running by the middle of the year.
Federal Labor pledged to build two of the bulk-billing clinics in the Northern Territory if it won last year's federal election, with Mr Albanese on Monday announcing the clinics will be built in Palmerston and Alice Springs.
The federal government has since promised $135 million over four years to establish a trial of 50 urgent care clinics in every state and territory.
The clinics will reduce demand pressures on public hospitals, provide bulk-billed treatment for urgent but non-life-threatening emergencies, and operate over extended hours seven days per week, the federal government says.
The Palmerston GP Super Clinic will deliver the urgent care clinic in Palmerston and the Central Australian Aboriginal Congress will deliver the clinic in Alice Springs.
"These clinics will make an enormous difference, and the good thing is you don't need your credit card – you just need your Medicare cards," Mr Albanese said.
He said the clinics would be fully funded in the upcoming federal budget next Tuesday.
Northern Territory Chief Minister Natasha Fyles said the urgent care clinics would help fill the gap in healthcare, acknowledging a shortage of general practitioners in Darwin.
Last week the Northern Territory government announced $25 million in funding for a new 32-bed ward at Royal Darwin Hospital.
The hospital, the Top End's busiest, has been often been stretched beyond capacity in recent years, with overcrowding leading to multiple "code yellows" and long wait times for beds.
Mr Albanese made the announcement during a short stop in Darwin on his way to the King's coronation in London.
