New figures show that 2023 new GPs were recruited in 237. This is more than seven times more than in 2021 and for the first time in many years the number of Norwegian residents without a general practitioner is decreasing.
Minister of Health and Care Ingvild Kjerkol is satisfied
– The government has prioritized tackling the 'GP crisis' with concrete measures and now we see a few arrows pointing in the right direction. In 2023, 237 new GPs were admitted, more than seven times more than in 2021. I'm very happy about it. We are now starting a historic investment in the "GP" program (fastlegeordningen). In two years, we have strengthened the program by over one billion crowns, says Minister of Health and Care Ingvild Kjerkol.
The number of people without a GP has decreased
2024 will be the first full year of a reinforced and revised basic grant of NOK 730 million , which the government introduced on May 1, 2023. GPs receive a fixed subsidy for each patient they have on their list. The current government has changed this subsidy to a patient-tailored basic subsidy, meaning that the subsidy given to each patient is tailored to the citizen's expected need for services. The Støre government also introduced a national ALIS program. The program will provide all doctors wishing to specialize in general medicine with a structured and predictable specialization course, which has contributed to increased recruitment. The allocation for the national ALIS will be increased by NOK 126,6 million in 2024, representing an increase of NOK 326,6 million over two years.
Most regions need more doctors
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– Positive changes are particularly visible in the second half of 2023. In just half a year, from August 2023 to January 2024, the number of residents without a primary care physician has decreased by almost 25. For the first time in many years, a decline has been recorded here, says Kjerkol. – Pessimism has turned into cautious optimism, but we still need to do more to equip the program for the future. Everyone should have a primary care doctor they can go to.
There are still over 200 people without a GP and over 000 are on a waiting list to change their GP. Most regions need more GPs, but Finnmark, Nordland, Møre og Romsdal and Telemark in particular face significant challenges. The GP program must adapt to the reality of an aging population and a much larger number of residents suffering from one or more chronic diseases that require treatment.
– It is extremely satisfying that for the first time in many years the development of the program is going in the right direction. This is good for patients and municipalities and crucial to the sustainability of our shared health and care services, concludes Kjerkol.
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Source: regjeringen, Udir, Photo: Ministry of Health and Welfare/screenshot
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