The rural healthcare sector is urgently calling for more migrant workers

Healthcare workers are currently being allowed into the country to take up rural jobs, but the exemption that allows them to do so is due to expire at the end of the year.

Rural General Practice Network chief executive Grant Davidson says he's worried what will happen after that.

He says the Government needs to either urgently loosen its criteria to let in migrant workers, or train more New Zealanders.

Davidson says there are currently 50 vacancies open across the country in rural healthcare.