Longer hours, more costs, fewer patients

A new survey released by the Singapore Medical Association has revealed that GPs are working longer hours and facing higher operating costs, while seeing fewer patients, compared to a decade ago.

The survey found that GPs are working an average 52.5 hours a week, compared to 48.7 hours a week in 1996.

But the average number of patients they are seeing has dropped by 15% during the same period - and operating costs for clinics has increased by 30%.

The results came from a survey of 300 GPs and is published in the November issue of SMA News.