A recent study by the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (Insee) reveals a growing imbalance in the distribution of general practitioners in France, with a notable decline of 5.6% in GPs from 2012 to 2021. Urban areas attract the majority of new GPs, leaving smaller towns underserved. Factors influencing this trend include doctors’ preferences for their birthplace and proximity to educational institutions, contributing to the emergence of medical deserts in various regions.
Uneven Distribution of General Practitioners in France
The distribution of general practitioners (GPs) across France is becoming increasingly imbalanced, according to a study released by the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (Insee) on November 12. This report highlights a growing concern: many regions are facing a critical shortage of GPs, and the situation is unlikely to improve in the near future.
Trends in Healthcare Professional Distribution
Insee’s findings reveal that the new wave of healthcare professionals is contributing to this disparity. The organization reported a decline of 5.6% in the number of GPs from 2012 to 2021. This reduction varies significantly across different regions, resulting in heightened spatial inequalities. While long-established self-employed GPs are relatively well-distributed according to population needs, the newer generation shows a distinct preference for urban locations.
Smaller towns are feeling the brunt of this trend. Insee states that, based on 2019 data, nearly 19% of the population resides far from major cities or in regions with less than 50,000 inhabitants, yet only 15% of newly practicing GPs choose to set up their offices in these areas. This pattern persists in regions with populations between 50,000 and 200,000, where only 15% of new doctors establish practices compared to 18% of the population living there.
In contrast, larger urban centers are witnessing a surge in the establishment of medical practices. According to the same report, approximately 57% of new GPs opt for areas with over 200,000 residents, where only 43% of the population resides. Cities like Nantes, Annecy, and La Rochelle exemplify this trend, while places such as Valenciennes, Le Mans, and Le Havre are less fortunate.
Interestingly, Paris stands out as an anomaly. Despite nearly 20% of the population living in the capital’s vicinity, younger doctors are less inclined to practice there. While 18.7% of doctors over 55 are established in Paris, only 13.1% of new GPs choose to settle in the city.
The factors influencing this distribution are diverse, with many doctors choosing their practice locations based on their birthplace. Insee reports that 60% of new self-employed GPs set up in the region where they were born, with one in ten establishing their practice in their exact birthplace. For half of these doctors, the distance from their birthplace to their practice is less than 85 km.
Moreover, the proximity to educational institutions plays a significant role in their decision-making. Half of the new self-employed GPs practice within 43 km of the university where they completed their internship. These factors are essential in understanding the emergence of medical deserts in certain regions of France.