Health at a Glance 2013
OECD Indicators

This seventh edition of Health at a Glance provides the latest comparable data on different aspects of the performance of health systems in OECD countries. It provides striking evidence of large variations across countries in health costs, health activities and health results of health systems. Key health indicators provide information on health status including suicide and life expectancy, the determinants of health, health care activities and health expenditure and financing in OECD countries. Each health indicator in the book is presented in a user-friendly format, consisting of charts illustrating variations across countries and over time, brief descriptive analyses highlighting the major findings conveyed by the health data, and a methodological box on the definition of the indicator and any limitations in data comparability.
Doctors by age, sex and category
Beyond the overall number of doctors, the age and gender composition of the medical workforce and the mix between different categories of doctors also have important implications on the current and future supply of medical services. The ageing of doctors in OECD countries has, for many years, raised concerns that there may not be sufficient new recruits to replace them, although there is evidence in several countries that the retirement of doctors often only occurs gradually and that their retirement age is increasing (Pong, 2011). The rising share of female doctors (the feminisation of medical professions) affects the overall supply of services, as women tend to work fewer hours than men, although it appears that working time preferences are becoming more similar among new generations of men and women doctors (Maiorova, 2007). The growing imbalance in favour of greater specialism over generalist medicine raises concerns in many countries about ensuring adequate access to primary care for all the population.
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