After penning an open letter urging Victorian voters to make the seat of Benambra marginal, oncologist Craig Underhill said the 44 doctors, surgeons and specialists wanted politicians in other domains to act too.

“The intention of that group of doctors was to influence the campaign and not just this campaign but the NSW election, the next federal election and all the elections after that,” he said.

“For the sake of our families and our children we need to be smarter, we need to start making these seats marginal.

“I guess in effect we’re putting the NSW Coalition government on notice that we’d be happy to also get involved publicly in a discussion about health funding on the border.”

Wangaratta GP Julian Fidge, who is standing for the Australian Country Party in the seat of Ovens Valley for next Saturday’s Victorian election, lauded the intervention of the 44.

“I would like to commend my colleagues and their bravery and their foresight in actually realising this is a political matter and you do have to speak out sometimes,” Dr Fidge said.

Unlike Dr Underhill, who declined to endorse a candidate in Benambra, fellow signatory, retired Wodonga obstetrician Pieter Mourik made his view clear, wearing a ‘Vote 1’ T-shirt for independent Jenny O’Connor at a media conference on Friday.

He said having worked in the area for 37 years public funding had been a constant problem and “the reason for that is that we’re a safe Liberal seat on both sides of border”.

Dr Mourik cited a case where funding woes had cruelled a service for patients.

“We had (a) vascular surgeon come in, wanted to work here, but couldn’t get a theatre,” he said.

“There was an empty theatre, but the funding wasn’t there, so he left and that’s (to) the detriment of our community.”

Ms O’Connor and fellow independent for Benambra Jacqui Hawkins hailed the medics’ letter.

“It’s actually extraordinary that 40 senior doctors have come out and made a statement like this,” Ms O’Connor said.

“What it says is that the seat of Benambra is absolutely missing out on critical infrastructure and funding for services, in this case health.”

Ms O’Connor said having been a cancer care co-ordinator “I know how hard the health professionals in this area have to lobby to get the funding they need”.

Ms Hawkins said: “I completely support the doctors in their call to push for a better deal.

“Wodonga is part of a very large health service, and yet the money to keep it operating is not coming our way.

“In contrast the funding is pouring into Shepparton since the seat was won by an independent.”