PREVALENCE OF DISEASE IN REGIONAL AREAS:

* Townsville had the highest private health claim rate for coronary heart disease, followed by Dubbo, western NSW, and Mackay, Queensland

* Mackay had the highest prevalence of skin cancer, followed by the NSW regions of Wollongong, Lithgow, Dubbo and Bathurst

* Rates of claim for prostate cancer treatment were highest in Mudgee, central west NSW, followed by Mackay and Townsville.

* "Variations are driven by a wide range of factors, including lifestyles, socio-economic status, and environmental factors," the Westfund regional health gap report said

ACCESS TO PRIVATE HEALTH PROVIDERS:

* Mudgee had 14 ancillary service providers per 1000 members, followed by Bathurst at 27, Dubbo 30, Orange 33, Mackay 50, Lithgow 63, Wollongong 212 and Townsville 281

* The analysis found members across regional areas face three main challenges in health care:

- Delayed screening and preventive health checks exacerbated by COVID-19

- Limited access to treatments and key healthcare providers

- Inadequate availability of services and medical equipment