Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 December 2013
492. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the extent to which the number of general practitioners per head of population in Ireland compares with the OECD average; his plans to change this; the timeframe for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52698/13]
View answerThe OECD Health Data 2013 shows the average number of General Practitioners (GPs) per 1,000 population across OECD countries in 2011 was approximately 0.70. It also shows that Ireland had approximately 0.72 GPs per 1,000 population in 2011. It should be noted that figures for some countries exclude trainees, while others (including Ireland) include all registered GPs.
On 20th November 2013, 2,828 medical practitioners held registration as trained Specialists in the specialty of General Practice on the Specialist Division of the Medical Council's Register of Medical Practitioners. Holding registration does not necessarily mean that the medical practitioner is in active practice. On 20th November last, 2,408 GPs held a General Medical Services (GMS) contract.
In July of this year, my colleague Dr James Reilly, Minister for Health, established a Working Group, chaired by Professor Brian MacCraith, President of DCU, to carry out a Strategic Review of Medical Training and Career Structure. The Working Group will examine and make high-level recommendations relating to training and career pathways for doctors with a view to improving graduate retention in the public health system, planning for future service needs, and realising maximum benefit from investment in medical education and training. Professor MacCraith has been asked to furnish the Group's final report by the end of June 2014.
The HSE is currently engaged in a medical workforce planning project, which will include a workforce plan for GPs. When this work has been completed, it will assist in identifying GP requirements.
