Retrospective analysis of census data on general practitioners who qualified in south Asia: Who will replace them as they retire?

Objectives To determine the number and geographical distribution of general practitioners in the NHS who qualified medically in South Asia and to proj ect their numbers as they retire. Design Retrospective analysis of yearly data and projection of future trend s, Setting England and Wales. Subjects General practitioners who qualified medically in the countries of Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka and who were practising in the N HS on 1 October 1992, Main outcome measures Proportion and age of general practitioners who quali fied in South Asia by health authority; the Benzeval and Judge measure of p opulation need at the health authority level. Results 4192 of 25333 (16.5%) of all unrestricted general practitioners pra ctising full time on 1 October 1992 qualified in South Asian medical school s. The proportion varied by health authority from 0.007% to 56.5%. Roughly two thirds who were practising in 1992 will have retired by 2007; in some h ealth authorities this will represent a loss of one in four general practit ioners. The practices that these doctors will leave seem to be in relativel y deprived areas as measured by deprivation payments and a health authority measure of population need. Conclusion Many general practitioners who qualified in South Asian medical schools will retire within the next decade. The impact will vary greatly by health authority. Those health authorities with the greatest number of suc h doctors are in some of the most deprived areas in the United Kingdom and have experienced the most difficulty in filling vacancies, Various response s will be required by workforce planners to mitigate the impact of these re tirements.