The availability, distribution and utilisation of general practitioners in New Zealand. A study based upon GMS claims

Data relating to GMS claims for 1977/78 and 1978/79 were analysed from all health districts. Calculations from these and other sources showed a figure for 1978/79 of 2120 population per full time equivalent general practitioner ranging from 1685 in Whangarei to 2691 in Invercargill. A mean GMS claim of $2.87 was used to calculate utilisation rates. These similarly varied from 4.8 services per person per year in Whangarei to 2.8 in Invercargill and were highly correlated with availability. This and other evidence suggests that supply is determining demand. Mean utilisation rates increased over the above period from 3.7 to 3.8 pointing to the cost consequences of an increasing number of general practitioners.