[The professional image of the general practitioner. Taking stock (author's transl)]

In order to maintain the necessary supply of general practitioners, by 1990 about 11,000 (44% of the present number) and by the year 2000 about 18,000 to 20,000 (about 75% of the present position) doctors must set up in general practice. 1000 to 1500 postgraduate places per annum must be reserved to guarantee the basic attention in general practice in future by "postgraduate" general practitioners. Preliminary medical treatment is no longer carried out exclusively by general practitioners. Only 60% of all original warrants for application for treatment per quarter are given to general practitioners; 40%, on the other hand went directly to specialists. In the last year a change has taken place in the patient's behavior at the first consultation. There has been a movement towards the specialist of about 2.5%.