The Australian Government is giving the Royal Flying Doctor Service $2.7 million to help fund its eHealth program.

The program will enable flying doctors to have mobile access to the electronic medical record system.

National ICT Minister Helen Coonan said in a press statement that this will provide financial savings, better risk management and improved recruitment and retention of health professionals.

The funding comes from the Governments Clever Networks program, which is part of its $1.1 billion Connect Australia package.

The Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia will lead the project in partnership with SingTel Optus, Alphawest Services, Intel Australia and Cisco Systems Australia.

"The Australian Government recognises it is not what broadband 'is' but what it can deliver that is important for Australia. Through the $113 million Clever Networks program the Government is stimulating the creation of broadband-enabled technologies and applications that have the potential to improve in a very significant way the health and education outcomes in rural and remote Australia," Coonan said in a press statement.

Consortium partners will match the funding from the Australian Government.