Australia | Physicians (per 1,000 people)

Physicians include generalist and specialist medical practitioners. Development relevance: The WHO estimates that at least 2.5 medical staff (physicians, nurses and midwives) per 1,000 people are needed to provide adequate coverage with primary care interventions (WHO, World Health Report 2006). Limitations and exceptions: The WHO compiles data from household and labor force surveys, censuses, and administrative records. Data comparability is limited by differences in definitions and training of medical personnel varies. In addition, human resources tend to be concentrated in urban areas, so that average densities do not provide a full picture of health personnel available to the entire population. Statistical concept and methodology: Health systems - the combined arrangements of institutions and actions whose primary purpose is to promote, restore, or maintain health (World Health Organization, World Health Report 2000) - are increasingly being recognized as key to combating disease and improving the health status of populations. The World Bank's Healthy Development: Strategy for Health, Nutrition, and Population Results emphasizes the need to strengthen health systems, which are weak in many countries, in order to increase the effectiveness of programs aimed at reducing specific diseases and further reduce morbidity and mortality. To evaluate health systems, the World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended that key components - such as financing, service delivery, workforce, governance, and information - be monitored using several key indicators. The data are a subset of the key indicators. Monitoring health systems allows the effectiveness, efficiency, and equity of different health system models to be compared. Health system data also help identify weaknesses and strengths and areas that need investment, such as additional health facilities, better health information systems, or better trained human resources. Data on health worker (physicians, nurses and midwives, and community health workers) density show the availability of medical personnel.
Publisher
The World Bank
Origin
Commonwealth of Australia
Records
63
Source
Australia | Physicians (per 1,000 people)
1960
1961 1.1
1962
1963
1964
1965
1966 1.2
1967
1968
1969
1970
1971 1.2
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976 1.5
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981 1.8
1982
1983
1984 1.8
1985 1.9
1986 2
1987 2.1
1988 2.1
1989 2.1
1990 2.17
1991 2.336
1992 2.374
1993 2.399
1994 2.438
1995 2.476
1996 2.403
1997 2.401
1998 2.402
1999 2.447
2000 2.491
2001 2.566
2002 2.562
2003 2.631
2004 2.708
2005 2.78
2006 2.842
2007 3.008
2008 3.018
2009 3.121
2010 3.364
2011 3.314
2012 3.311
2013 3.374
2014 3.45
2015 3.505
2016 3.577
2017 3.677
2018 3.747
2019 3.827
2020 4.102
2021
2022

Australia | Physicians (per 1,000 people)

Physicians include generalist and specialist medical practitioners. Development relevance: The WHO estimates that at least 2.5 medical staff (physicians, nurses and midwives) per 1,000 people are needed to provide adequate coverage with primary care interventions (WHO, World Health Report 2006). Limitations and exceptions: The WHO compiles data from household and labor force surveys, censuses, and administrative records. Data comparability is limited by differences in definitions and training of medical personnel varies. In addition, human resources tend to be concentrated in urban areas, so that average densities do not provide a full picture of health personnel available to the entire population. Statistical concept and methodology: Health systems - the combined arrangements of institutions and actions whose primary purpose is to promote, restore, or maintain health (World Health Organization, World Health Report 2000) - are increasingly being recognized as key to combating disease and improving the health status of populations. The World Bank's Healthy Development: Strategy for Health, Nutrition, and Population Results emphasizes the need to strengthen health systems, which are weak in many countries, in order to increase the effectiveness of programs aimed at reducing specific diseases and further reduce morbidity and mortality. To evaluate health systems, the World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended that key components - such as financing, service delivery, workforce, governance, and information - be monitored using several key indicators. The data are a subset of the key indicators. Monitoring health systems allows the effectiveness, efficiency, and equity of different health system models to be compared. Health system data also help identify weaknesses and strengths and areas that need investment, such as additional health facilities, better health information systems, or better trained human resources. Data on health worker (physicians, nurses and midwives, and community health workers) density show the availability of medical personnel.
Publisher
The World Bank
Origin
Commonwealth of Australia
Records
63
Source