[Manpower of rheumatology in catalonia (Spain)]

To determine the changes in Rheumatology provision and working practice that have occurred on the basis of the 1990, 1996 surveys carried out to update the Catalan Society for Rheumatology register

The register includes all rheumatologists in Catalonia (Spain) who are registered and who do clinical work. Questionnaires were sent to all rheumatologists on the register. The questionnaires asked about location and clinical commitments.

One hundred twenty-four rheumatologists work at the public system in Catalonia, 80 (65%) work at hospitals. The majority of rheumatologists (105; 84,6%) are located in the province of Barcelona. One fith of the rheumatologists have a temporal work. Ten general hospitals are still lacking of rheumatologists.

Although the number of rheumatologists in Catalonia has increased there are ongoing inequalities in the provision of Rheumatology, especially between Barcelona and the rest of provinces.