Physicians at the primary care level of the public health care system of Chile: Trend, geographical distribution and standards

Abstract

We update the existing information on the medical staffing of Primary Health Care in the Public Health Care System of Chile. The distribution of physicians among geographical areas and types of facilities in the year 2007 is presented. The trend of the doctor to beneficiary population ratio for the period 2002-2007 is examined. We estimate the average number of visits per physician-hour and the average number of visits per beneficiary. The level of staffing is increasing but, in most regions, is still below the norm accepted by the Ministry of Health. Over all, the medical PHC services provided by the Public System are below the level attained in the industrialized nations. We discuss the links between doctor visit targets, the productivity of PHC doctors and the requirement of physician hours. There is a need for up to date and reliable information on the prevailing situation (which this paper attempts to provide); but consideration of the health care model proposed in the national health policy is also essential for setting standards of PHC physicians to population ratio, as well as norms for the utilization of their time and for quality standards. In turn, these characteristics should form the basis for the education and the career of doctors.