Medical practitioners in remote areas work an average of 49
hours per week, or 4 more hours per week than their capital city
colleagues, according to figures released today by the Australian
Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW).
Medical Labour Force 2000 shows that, generally, the
number of medical practitioners per 100,000 population
(practitioner rate) decreased and hours worked per week increased
with decreasing population density.
Medical practitioner rates ranged from 307 doctors per 100,000
population in capital cities to 94 per 100,000 in 'other rural
areas' (i.e., rural areas other than rural centres).
Head of the AIHW's Labour Force and Rural Health Unit, Glenice
Taylor, said that the regional differences were not surprising.
'This is a continuation of a general trend. The higher average
hours worked by practitioners based in remote areas is linked to
the comparatively lower numbers of practitioners there.
'And, as could also be expected, specialists are concentrated in
the capital cities and large rural centres because the large
hospitals are located there, together with advanced equipment and
facilities for research and training.'
The practitioner rate for specialists in large rural centres
(101 per 100,000 population) was on a par with that for capital
cities (99).
The provision of doctors in rural and remote areas was augmented
by 1,353 practitioners based in more populated regions who also
practised in a second, less populated region.
For example, 213 capital city-based practitioners worked, on
average, one day (8.7 hours) per week in 'other rural areas'.
Another 76 averaged one day (8.4 hours) per week in remote
areas.
The hours worked by capital city-based practitioners in these
areas equated to 55 extra practitioners in rural and remote areas
working a 45-hour week.
At a national level, there were 51,106 practitioners employed
and practising in medicine in Australia in 2000, an increase of 8%
since 1995. The average age of employed practitioners was 46.5
years, and just under one-third (30%) were women.
Overall, medical practitioners worked an average of 45.5 hours
per week in 2000, which was less than in 1995 when they worked an
average of 48.2 hours. The proportion of practitioners working 50
hours or more per week remained high, however, at almost half
(48.2%) of all practitioners.
The combined effect of lower average weekly hours and an
increased practitioner rate was a decline in full-time equivalent
rates (FTE per 100,000 population) in 2000. Based on a 45-hour
week, the FTE rate declined from 279 in 1995 to 270 in 2000.
25 June 2003
Further information: Ms Glenice Taylor, AIHW,
tel. 02 6244 1153
For media copies of the report: Publications
Officer, AIHW, tel. 02 6244 1032
Availability: Check the AIHW
Publications Catalogue for details.