Smoking rates still higher in the bush.

Despite health and cancer screening services being less accessible in the bush, smoking rates are climbing in rural and remote areas.

Research shows 19.6% of people in remote and very remote regions are yet to kick the habit.

That figure is down to 9.7% in major cities.

Rural editor Sophie Clarke caught up with Rural Doctors Association President Megan Belot to hear about the discrepancies, and what needs to be done address them.