Medical manpower in Victoria, 1977

A medical manpower survey in Victoria in 1977 revealed that there were 7823 registered medical practitioners, giving an apparent ratio of doctors to population of 1:483. However, only 81% of respondents were working in Victoria, and therefore the ratio of doctors in active practice in the State to population was estimated to be 1:597. Data from the survey revealed that the median age was 40 years. Female doctors comprised 17%, but the proportion of women was much higher amongst younger graduates. Private practitioners accounted for 60% of respondents (general practitioners, 36%; specialists, 24%), full-time hospital staff members for 28%, and practitioners in other salaried appointments for 12%. The ratio of general practitioners to population was estimated to be 1:1560 in the Melbourne statistical division, 1:1780 in the country, and 1:1617 in Victoria as a whole. Long hours of work were reported by the great majority of doctors. The impact of changing numbers and distribution of various categories of medical manpower on future work and postgraduate training is discussed. Early consideration of regulating the number of doctors by reducing the number of undergraduates entering Australian medical schools and by restricting the immigration of doctors from overseas is advocated.