However, family doctors say they should deal with no more than 30 patients a day, in order to ensure proper care is given. One in 10 GPs are in touch with 60 or more patients – double the safe limit – the survey found.
The predominant need is for GPs who are willing to work the full hours' range and to commit to a practice full-time. With the competition in the inner city suburbs being so fierce, GPs will typically see around 20 – 30 patients per day, depending on the model of the practice.
Doctors per 1,000 people, 2020 - Country rankings:
The average for 2020 based on 2 countries was 3.67 doctors per 1,000 people. The highest value was in Australia: 3.9 doctors per 1,000 people and the lowest value was in New Zealand: 3.43 doctors per 1,000 people.
The ideal average patient load for a primary care provider has been estimated at 1,000; however, many physicians say the reality is around 2,500. One organization, the American Association for Physician Leadership, says the number is closer to 3,000.
There is no shortage of doctors in Australia and never has been - the problem is one of mal-distribution. The numbers speak for themselves - 3.3 doctors per 1000 head of population in Australia compared to an average in the developed world of somewhere between 2-3 doctors per head of population.
The shortage is projected to be around 9,000 doctors, primarily in rural and remote areas. The aging population and increasing demand for healthcare services are cited as the main reasons for the shortage.
Comparison of doctor salary in Australia vs globally
According to Medscape's 2022 Global Compensation Report, the average annual salary for doctors in Australia is USD 199,000, which is higher than the global average of USD 142,000.
Among OECD countries in 2020, South Korea had the highest rate of yearly visits to a doctor per capita. South Korea had an average rate of 14.7 yearly visits with a doctor per capita at that time. Health care utilization is an important indicator of the success of a country's health care system.
Dr Lizzie Toberty, GP lead at Doctors' Association UK, said: “GPs dealing with at least 60 patients a day is increasingly becoming the new normal. A few years ago between 30 and 35 would have been the average with less complex needs.
GP practices are paid on the basis of the number of patients on their list.
Based on our latest GP salary survey (May 2023), the average GP salary in Australia is $334,000 for GPs who work 7 or more sessions per week (full-time). The annual General Practitioner salary for part-time GPs, working 6 sessions or less per week, amounts to an average of $164,000 pa.
At its simplest form the doctor hierarchy for a medical team usually comprises one or more intern doctors as the most junior doctor in the team, followed by one or more resident doctors, then registrars, and finally consultant doctors as the most senior doctor/s in charge.
Physicians (per 1,000 people) in Australia was reported at 4.1292 in 2020, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Australia - Physicians - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2023.
Looking at the results from HotDoc's Patient Survey 2020 (a survey of 618 Australians) we found 48% of Australians visit a doctor more than 3 times a year. 38% say they visit their doctor between 4 and 12 times a year, 9% between 12 and 52 times a year and 1% more than once a week.
Australian Bureau of Statistics figures from late 2022 show the median weekly earnings (pre-tax) in Australia was $1,250, with median hourly earnings of $37 per hour.
Making a doctor's appointment
You may have to provide proof of your vaccination history. Make sure you have your OSHC details handy. A standard doctor's consultation is around 15 minutes, which should cover one medical issue. Ask for a longer appointment when booking if you think you will require more time.
The number of patients a doctor in India sees is greater. Patients tend to be seen between 50 and 200 per day at some clinics.
It's widely agreed that GP surgeries are busiest on Monday mornings, so this might be a time to avoid if you can. “Things appear over the weekend, and people hang on because they don't want to go to A&E,” says Dr Bhatia, adding Tuesdays after Bank Holiday weekends can be hectic, too.
Not every patient will need to come into the practice itself, and many will prefer not to have to take a morning or afternoon off work to do so. Meanwhile, some conditions would be better seen by another professional such as a pharmacist or physiotherapist that may not be based in the surgery building.
Which countries have the happiest doctors? The happiest doctors in the world are found in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, according to a new study.
Doctors per 1,000 people, 2020 - Country rankings:
The highest value was in Austria: 5.35 doctors per 1,000 people and the lowest value was in Brazil: 2.05 doctors per 1,000 people. The indicator is available from 1960 to 2021. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.
Nearly 50% of foreign-trained doctors in the United States come from Asian countries, with doctors coming from India representing by far the largest number, followed by the Philippines and Pakistan.
In Australia, the standard full-time working week is between 35-40 hours. Any doctor working well beyond that, is doing too many.
The rising costs of providing quality care coupled with inadequate Medicare rebates means many GP's have been left with no other option but to pass the costs onto patients.
1. Surgeon ($457,281) Surgeons were the top-paying job in the country, making an eye-watering $457,281 per year. There are 4,157 in Australia.