Australia has an ongoing GP shortage. Why can’t we just train more GPs?

Australia is facing a critical shortage of GPs, with the predicted shortfall expected to reach 8,600 GPs by 2048. Despite efforts to attract and train more medical graduates, there are several reasons why the country is struggling to meet the increasing demand.

Why is demand for GPs increasing?

The demand for GP services is on the rise due to changes in the population. Between June 2019 and June 2023, the Australian population grew by 5.2%. Additionally, the aging population is a significant factor, with the number of people aged 65 years and over increasing by 13.1% during the same period. Older patients, especially those with multiple chronic conditions, require more frequent GP visits compared to younger, healthier patients.

For example, in 2023, patients aged 10–14 years visited GPs an average of 3.5 times, while those aged 85 years or older averaged 17.3 GP visits in the same year. This demographic shift means that the demand for GP services is outpacing population growth.

Challenges in meeting the demand

While the overall number of GPs in Australia has increased by 5.1% in recent years, the number of full-time equivalent GPs has actually decreased by 1.3%. This is partly due to historical trends where male GPs work fewer hours and the increasing proportion of female GPs, who traditionally work fewer hours due to caregiver responsibilities.

As a result, the shortage of full-time equivalent GPs persists, making it challenging to meet the growing demand for GP services.

Barriers to attracting new graduates to general practice

General practice has been struggling to attract new graduates, with only 10.5% of medical graduates listing it as their first choice of specialization. Lower financial incentives compared to other medical specialties, challenges in the training pathway, and differences in working conditions are some of the key reasons why general practice is not as appealing to new graduates.

Efforts to address the shortage

Despite these challenges, there have been efforts to increase enrollments in GP training programs. For 2025, Australian GP training program positions are fully filled, marking a nearly 20% increase from 2024 enrollments. While this is a positive development, more sustainable strategies are needed to address the disparities between general practice and other specialties.

Ensuring support for general practice is crucial to maintain comprehensive and coordinated healthcare services for Australians, rather than fragmented care.