Growth in the international physician supply. 1950 through 1979
D. A. Kindig and C. M. Taylor
The recent growth in domestic physician supply prompted an investigation of
international trends. Using data from the World Health Organization, it was
determined that the number of physicians in the world grew from 4.8 per
10,000 population to 10.1 per 10,000 during the period 1950 through 1979.
There was a 96% increase in industrialized nations, 223% in nations with
centrally planned economies, 164% in middle-income nations, and 29% in
low-income nations. Relationships in growth in physician supply and
production of medical graduates are discussed. Implications of the
inequities between the various groupings of countries are discussed.
