The why and the wherefore

Through their clearly defined gatekeeper role, GPs have considerable market power to influence the flow of revenue associated with referrals and prescriptions. For this reason, and because the whole healthcare industry is going through a transition from a cottage industry to a more commercially sophisticated structure, corporatisation of general practice is on the increase. If properly and ethically run, corporatised general practices can provide high-quality, efficient primary care. There are four far-reaching, potential consequences of general practice corporatisation--an increase in healthcare spending; limitation of GPs' choice of practice environment; difficulty justifying GPs' legitimate fee increases; and de-skilling of GPs.