Three quarters of newly-qualified GPs who emigrated in recent years did so within two years of graduating medical school.
That is according to a new survey commissioned by the Irish College of General Practitioners.
As it holds its annual conference at the Convention Centre in Dublin this weekend, the body is calling for urgent action to stop the “brain drain” of doctors leaving the country.
The survey notes that one-in-five doctors who qualify in Ireland end up practicing elsewhere.
Brain drain
On Newstalk Breakfast this morning, ICGP medical director Dr Tony Cox said there are a number of issues forcing young doctors abroad.
“It is quality of life and family-friendly contracts,” he said. “It is pay and conditions, that is really what is encouraging it – and the worries about the viability of general practice here in Ireland.”
The ICGP is warning that thousands of new GPs will be needed within the next seven years to meet demand.
Dr Cox said the country is facing an “acute shortage” of doctors, “due to the combination of increased demand from a growing population, and increased complexity of illness, combined with GP retirements.”
“At least 2,500 new GPs will be needed within the next 7 years to meet existing demand.”
Conditions
He called on the Government to be creative in convincing young GPs to choose to stay at home – and encourage those who have already left to come back from countries like Australia and Canada, where working conditions are currently much better.
Ireland has 68 GPs per 100,000 population – compared to 110 in Canada, and 120 in Australia.
“One possible solution is to provide more flexible contracts,” said Dr Cox.
“If the Government goes ahead with its stated intention of expanding free care to under 12s, this must be matched with more GPs to provide for the growing demand.
“The expansion of free care to the under-sixes increased the GP visit rate to 28%.”
Despite the difficulties, Dr Cox said this weekend is being held at a time of optimism in general practice, “with the announcement of a new agreement and the reversal of the devastating FEMPI cuts, which has been long overdue.”
