Physician Resources in the Health System – Comparison of Poland and Selected European Countries

Abstract

The aim of the study was to compare physician resources in the Polish health system and other European countries in the years 2005–2015. An attempt was made to answer the question of whether there is a link between the number of physicians and the model of the health-care system in a given country. It was attempted to determine what is the reason for Poland’s distant places on the lists of doctors holding the license and practicing per 1000 inhabitants. The basic items of the “inflows” to (medical graduates, immigrants) and “outflows” from (retirement, emigrants, transfers to non-medical professions) the resources of doctors are indicated. Attention has been paid to the areas in need of systemic changes that may lead to an increase in the resources of physicians in Poland.

Keywords

• human resources in health-care system
• physicians with license
• practicing physicians