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Freqently asked questions
Doctors in New Zealand

These FAQs relate to a media release dated 18 May 2005 - "HWAC Review of the Medical Workforce"

How many doctors are there in New Zealand per head of population and how does this compare to other countries?

How many General Practitioners (GPs) are there per head of population?

What proportion of overseas doctors make up New Zealand's medical workforce?

How many medical students train in New Zealand and how does this compare to other countries?

Why doesn't New Zealand train more doctors?

What proportion of women make up New Zealand's medical workforce?

What proportion of men make up New Zealand's medical workforce?

How many hours on average do doctors work in New Zealand and how does this compare to other countries?

How will New Zealand's aging population impact on the health workforce?

How will the age of the medical workforce have an impact on the future needs of the health system?

Are there any particular areas in New Zealand which have greater medical workforce issues than others?

(please note, all figures are for 2002 and 2003, the most recent data available)

How many doctors are there in New Zealand per head of population and how does this compare to other countries?

In 2002 there were 2.13 active medical practitioners / 1000 population in New Zealand. The inclusion of doctors holding temporary registration brings this figure up to 2.33 /1000 population.

Comparisons are difficult to make for other countries, but estimations for 2002 have been made:
Australia: 2.73/1000
UK 1.75/1000
Scotland 2.46 /1000

The Medical Council of New Zealand holds an annual workforce survey. Active medical practitioners are those who respond saying they work an average of over 4 hours per week. Doctors holding temporary registration are not included in the survey.


How many GPs are there per head of population?

Again, international data on GPs per head of population are not directly comparable, but some assessments have been done:


What proportion of overseas doctors make up New Zealand's medical workforce?

In 2003 34.1% of fully registered doctors in New Zealand gained their undergraduate medical qualification from overseas. The inclusion of Temporary Registrants will bring this figure up to almost 40%.

A temporary registrant is a doctor who graduated from a medical school and is visiting but not intending on residing permanently in New Zealand. They require supervision throughout their employment. Temporary registration is usually granted for two years.


How many medical students train in New Zealand and how does this compare to other countries?

In 2004 New Zealand medical schools had 325 domestic students in their first year of medical studies - giving a student / population ratio of 8.1 / 100,000
As first year intakes have only recently increased, current medical graduate to population ratio is 7.1 / 100,000

Approximations have been made on enrolments in other countries compared to their populations:

In 2001 the US enrolled 6 students per 100,000 population
In 2001 England enrolled 7.7 students / 100,000 population
In 2003 Canada enrolled 6.3 students / 100,000 population
In 2004 Scotland enrolled 16 students / 100,000 population

In 2001 Australia had 6.2 medical graduates / 100,000 population

The document has raised questions about the length of time taken to train a medical practitioner compared to other countries, and the costs involved to both the student and the government throughout the under-graduate training process. The submission process requests feedback on these questions


Why doesn't New Zealand train more doctors?

Restrictions on medical school entry in New Zealand began in the 1940's with the introduction of an annual 'cap' on funding for medical school positions. The initial cap was set at 100. Since then changes to the cap level have only been able to be made by New Zealand Government Cabinet decision. The last change to this cap took effect in 2004, when an additional 40 places were created for students from a rural background in New Zealand. The cap currently stands at 325.


What proportion of women make up New Zealand's medical workforce?

In 2003, women comprised 34.5% of the medical workforce

NB: women now comprise slightly in excess of 50% of medical student numbers


What proportion of men make up New Zealand's medical workforce?

In 2003, men comprised 65.5% of the medical workforce


How many hours on average do doctors work in New Zealand and how does this compare to other countries?

There is evidence to suggest that the hours worked by many medical practitioners are inconsistent with a healthy work-life balance. Over half of House Officers, Registrars and Specialists report themselves as working greater than 50 hours a week. Just over one third of General Practitioners and Medical Officers of Special Scale work less than 40 hours a week.


Medical workforce group% of group working >50 hours / week% of group working < 40 hours / week (i.e. part-time)
GPs30.635.1
House Officers 83.7<5
Registrars75.5<5
Specialists50.617.5
Medical Officer of Special Scale19.837.6


How will New Zealand's aging population impact on the health workforce?

We believe that the aging New Zealand population will drive the rate of demand for health and disability services into the future, due to increasing levels of chronic disease and consequent requirements for health care. This demand will increase more rapidly than the size of the population itself.

At the same time the labour workforce in New Zealand is expected to grow only slowly over the next 20 years, resulting in fewer workers aged 18-44 years, and many more workers aged 45-64 years. There will be high demand for younger members of the workforce.


How will the age of the medical workforce have an impact on the future needs of the health system?

The medical workforce has aged progressively over the last decade, by 2003 23.3% of the medical workforce were under the age of 35, compared to 35% in 1990. There are a large number of medical practitioners in their early to mid-40's - due to the post-war 'baby boom' and temporarily increased admissions into medical schools between 1975 and 1980.

Without substantive change, this large cohort of medical practitioners will retire from the medical workforce in the next 20 years.


Are there any particular areas in New Zealand which have greater medical workforce issues than others?

The consultation document identifies a number of immediate priorities for action: