BMJ  2007;334:236-237 (3 February), doi:10.1136/bmj.39112.426481.59

Observations

THE WEEK IN MEDICINE

So how much do doctors really earn?

The rumbling political row over debt in the NHS means that the vexed issue of doctors' pay is not going to go away any time soon.

Are doctors in the United Kingdom overpaid? An obvious way to address the question is to compare the earnings of UK medics with those of their overseas colleagues. That is easier said than done, though: few if any direct comparisons exist, and any comparison is made difficult by different contractual agreements and working conditions. The UK Treasury has, however, made an attempt, in its latest 2007 comprehensive spending review for the NHS.

The report contains estimates of average earnings of GPs and hospital doctors in 2003-4 in 16 countries, including the UK's major competitors. The figures are based on research gathered by British embassies. It should be emphasised that the figures are estimates.

Nevertheless, a few things leap out from the data, including the . . . [Full text of this article]

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    StumbleUpon    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Allsop, J., Bourgeault, I. L., Evetts, J., Le Bianic, T., Jones, K., Wrede, S. (2009). Encountering Globalization: Professional Groups in an International Context. Current Sociology 57: 487-510 [Abstract]  
• Lega, F. (2008). Lights and shades in the managerialization of the Italian National Health Service. Health Serv Manage Res 21: 248-261 [Abstract] [Full text]  

Rapid Responses:

Read all Rapid Responses

Remuneration of GPs

Elizabeth Marsh
bmj.com, 2 Feb 2007 [Full text]

A question of worth?

Malcolm J Bourne
bmj.com, 2 Feb 2007 [Full text]

Time for a balanced debate

Michelle C Quilter, et al.
bmj.com, 2 Feb 2007 [Full text]

Get the facts straight

Graham Wheatley
bmj.com, 6 Feb 2007 [Full text]

Unscientific article with no proper analysis

Ram Kumar
bmj.com, 5 Feb 2007 [Full text]

Worth it if done properly

graeme mackenzie
bmj.com, 5 Feb 2007 [Full text]

GP pay

S Geethavani
bmj.com, 5 Feb 2007 [Full text]

doctors earnings

sriramashetty vengopal O.B.E, et al.
bmj.com, 5 Feb 2007 [Full text]

Doctors are worth every penny

claire L chambers
bmj.com, 5 Feb 2007 [Full text]

The distortion of Value

Richard Rosin
bmj.com, 5 Feb 2007 [Full text]

The value of income remains relative

Nicholas F. Grigoropoulos
bmj.com, 5 Feb 2007 [Full text]

Is this really relevant?

Rachel J Smith
bmj.com, 6 Feb 2007 [Full text]

Response to how much do doctors really earn

Arunima Bhattacharyya
bmj.com, 6 Feb 2007 [Full text]

The locum effect

Paul HJ Donachie
bmj.com, 6 Feb 2007 [Full text]

Systematic devaluation is underway

Amit Patel
bmj.com, 7 Feb 2007 [Full text]

Recycling inaccurate information

David Clough
bmj.com, 7 Feb 2007 [Full text]

Leave us alone

Emily H Ball
bmj.com, 9 Feb 2007 [Full text]

Dull and lazy article

ian nesbitt
bmj.com, 11 Feb 2007 [Full text]

Science or Politics?

Salman A Mushtaq
bmj.com, 12 Feb 2007 [Full text]

Time for a more considered response from the medical profession

Kelsey D J Jones
bmj.com, 13 Feb 2007 [Full text]

Re: Time for a more evidenced response from the public health profession

Graham Wheatley
bmj.com, 17 Feb 2007 [Full text]

Re: Re: Time for a more evidenced response from the public health profession

Kelsey D J Jones
bmj.com, 23 Feb 2007 [Full text]

Productivity is what matters

Graham Wheatley
bmj.com, 24 Feb 2007 [Full text]

Keep Your GP's Happy!

James L. Krantz, M.D.
bmj.com, 24 Mar 2007 [Full text]

Spend and Tax

Maybelle Wallis
bmj.com, 26 Mar 2007 [Full text]