The Rural Doctors Association says some regional patients may be forced to make "life and death" decisions due to rising fuel costs. (ABC North West Queensland: Kelly Butterworth)

In short:

Many regional and rural patients say they are struggling to afford fuel to attend critical medical appointments.

The Rural Doctors Association says some people may be forced to make "life and death" decisions.

What's next?

The association says travel subsidies for regional and rural patients need to be increased.

Belinda Menzies and her family all live with significant health issues.

But as fuel prices rise, she says they are cutting back on driving to appointments, which she worries will cause her family's health to deteriorate.

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"I'm scared more than anything of the decline in the progress that we've made," Ms Menzies said.

She said her family lived with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, a genetic connective tissue disorder.

It takes more than an hour to travel from her home in Beaudesert to doctors and therapists in Brisbane and the Gold Coast and the trips are quickly becoming unaffordable.

Belinda Menzies (left) with Maddie Menzies, 24, and Elliot are spending hundreds of dollars on fuel every month. (ABC News: Heloise Vyas)

"We might only do a half grocery shop and have to just live on the cheap baked beans or whatever's in the fridge and cupboards," she said.

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Fuel bills for the Menzies family have "skyrocketed", with Ms Menzies estimating her monthly fuel costs between $300 and $350 will reach about $500.

But she said that expense could increase further "depending on how high the prices go".

Fuel costs are fast becoming a critical expense for patients in rural and regional Australia. (ABC News: Chris Taylor)

Concerns patients are cancelling or delaying medical treatment

Rural Doctors Association of Australia president Sarah Chalmers said rural and remote communities already paid more for fuel than city motorists.

She said unleaded fuel in parts of northern Australia was now well over $3 per litre, making travel too expensive for some patients.

"There are circumstances where people feeling the need to delay treatment could be a life and death situation for them," Dr Chalmers said.

"We are definitely in a situation where people may be making decisions that they think is about saving money but actually may cost them more in the long run, including potentially their life."

Rural patient advocate Justine Christerson said people were "stressed" about their budgets as fuel costs increased. (ABC News: Edward Gill)

Rural patient advocate Justine Christerson said she had been contacted by people "stressed" about their budgets.

"Sadly, it's easier to sacrifice the travel for health care rather than cutting out their groceries or not paying their rent for the week," Ms Christerson said.

'Without dialysis, I don't live'

Bruce Boss, 72, is living with a range of complex medical needs, including kidney failure.

Bruce Boss travels multiple times a week for medical appointments. (Supplied)

He travels from his home in rural South Australia to his nearest town for dialysis three times a week.

"I'm very concerned … I mean without dialysis, I don't live. It's quite simple," he said.

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He also regularly travels further to Adelaide for multiple specialist appointments.

"We've cut our budget down to survival-type rations … we're just very, very careful about what we spend our money on," he said.

Mr Boss is deeply worried about the possibility of fuel shortages or rationing.

Unleaded fuel in some parts of northern Australia is more than $3 per litre, making travel too expensive for some patients. (ABC News: Chris Taylor)

"I mean, if we can't get fuel, I'm not sure what we're going to do," he said.

Mr Boss wants governments to prioritise rural and remote patients.

"The government has to step up here," he said.

Call to increase travel subsidies for rural and regional patients

Dr Chalmers said more equitable access to health care was a crucial part of the solution, but the "most urgent" was financial help for patients.

Sarah Chalmers said the cost of fuel in rural and remote communities was making travel too expensive for patients.

"Increasing the travel subsidies for rural and remote patients who need care in bigger centres who have to travel to get that care," Dr Chalmers said.

"We know that there are already people who couldn't afford to travel … this is a further exacerbation."

World leaders have failed to grasp the depth of the energy crisis created by the Iran war, the head of the International Energy Agency has warned, as he considers releasing extra emergency oil stores.

The ABC contacted all state and territory health departments.

None said they were planning to increase the fuel subsidy given to rural or regional patients who needed to travel for medical care.

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