The case of Canadian general surgeons: getting the message heard.

The problem of physician resources is at the top of the health care policy agenda, and physicians are faced with the challenge of change. General surgeons, like others, must address the changes in health care needs and demands, technology, information and funding. This paper begins with a demographic and workload profile of general surgery based on data provided by the Canadian Medical Association's Physician Resource Questionnaire (PRQ). The findings indicate the following: the supply of general surgical procedures has been declining; general surgeons are older than other specialists; and the proportion of women in general surgery is lower than that of the profession as a whole. The practice profile of general surgery is also changing because of advances in technology and information and the changing practice of subspecialists. Changes affecting general surgery raise important questions regarding future physician resource policies. The medical profession's involvement in the area of physician resources at the national level is outlined, with a particular focus on the role of the Canadian Medical Association. It is important that general surgeons become involved in the discussion, since the policy decisions made today will affect the future practice of general surgery.