OBJECTIVES : The migration of health care professionals has an emerging importance in health policy. One of its reasons is the dissatisfaction with salaries. We analysed the remuneration of physicians in OECD European countries.

METHODS : Data were derived from OECD Health Database. We analysed data for every salaried physician in European OECD members, excluding Iceland, Latvia and Turkey. Countries were grouped as: Bismarckian solidarity-based health insurance system or Beveridge-like national health system. For analysing the average gross annual income (AGAI), US$ exchange rate (ER) and US$ PPP indicators were used between the years 2006-2015.

RESULTS : In 2006 AGAI (ER) of physicians were 70,717 US$, while in PPP it was 72,271US$ PPP for countries with Bismarck-model, and 119,911 US$, as well as 100,311 US$ PPP in Beveridge-systems. The difference was not significant (p=0.178; p=0.310). In 2015 AGAI (ER) of physicians were 96,238 US$, while in PPP it was 116,716US$ PPP for countries with Bismarck-model, and 104,337 US$, as well as 112,075 US$ PPP in Beveridge-model countries. The difference was not significant (p=0.814; p=0.883). Between 2006-2015 AGAI of physicians increased from 70,717 US$ to 96,238 US$ (+36%) in Bismarck-model countries, while in Beveridge-based countries it decreased from 119,911 US$ to 104,337 US$ (-13%). Within the same time, AGAI of physicians from all OECD members increased from 81,694 US$ to 99,762 US$ (+22%). Between 2006-2015 AGAI of physicians increased from 72,271 US$ PPP to 116,716 US$ PPP (+61%) in Bismarck-model countries, in Beveridge-based countries it increased from 100,311 US$ PPP to 112,075 US$ PPP (+12%). Within the same time, AGAI of physicians from all OECD members increased from 80,557 US$ PPP to 115,875 US$ PPP (+44%). The remuneration increased mostly in Slovak Republic, both in ER (+128%) and in PPP (+135%).

CONCLUSIONS : The remuneration of physicians increased higher in countries with Bismarck-model between 2006-2015. Differences were not significant.