Geographic imbalances of physician supply: an international comparison.

This study was undertaken to compare geographic imbalances of physician manpower in developed and developing countries and to evaluate the success of policies designed to alleviate the imbalances. Data were drawn from a mail survey of countries conducted by the World Health Organization, from national statistical summaries, and from published information on national policies and programs. Information was available from 26 developing countries and 15 developed countries. Among developing countries, the degree of urbanization and rural economic development appeared to be the most important determinants of the level of geographic imbalance. Among developed countries, those with very high overall physician/population ratios tended to have the least degree of imbalance, but this effect was not consistent. At the national level in most countries, the effect of policies or programs specifically designed to redistribute physician manpower appeared to be limited.