[Free choice of a physician in general medicine]

The purpose of this paper was to study the implementation of a free choice of a physician in general practice (GP) in 1992, as well as to study how it was influenced by the characteristics of GPs, population that made this choice, and health system. The study group of 71 GPs consisted of 37 (52.1%) specialists of general practice, 50 (70.4%) female GPs, 42 (59.2%) who worked in town and 52 (73.3%) who had their practices situated close to the place of residence of the majority of their patients. There were significant differences in the number (range, 450-5000 patients) and structure of patients on the lists of the studied GPs. The proportion of partial and whole families on the lists of the examined GPs was somewhat over 50%, and the same proportion of 50% had preschool children in care. No statistically significant differences were found in the size and structure of population on the lists between the studied GPs according to their age, sex or level of professional education. However, the site of outpatient clinic in a village and suburban area of a town or a town had a significant influence on the size and structure of the population in care of GPs. GPs who worked in the rural or outlying residential district of a town had a statistically significantly higher portion of families and preschool children on their lists than GPs who worked in towns. For the implementation of a free choice of a physician, it is mandatory to anticipate the period for adjustment and reconstruction of the primary health care (PHC) system.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)