Medical labour force 2006

The overall supply of medical practitioners in Australia rose between 2002 and 2006, while the primary care doctor supply fell, according to a report (free online) released on Friday by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). Major cities (at 332 FTE per 100,000) had the largest supply of medical practitioners, followed by inner regional areas (at 184) and outer regional areas at 154 FTE.The report is based on the main findings of the 2006 national survey of registered medical practitioners. Information presented includes a national and state/territory overview of the number of medical practitioners (including age and sex, field of medicine, working hours and where they work), their geographic region and overall supply.