OBJECTIVES: Both hungarian and international policy directives (EU, WHO) aim to strenghten vthe gatekeeping role of general practicioners. General practices are the most important parts of the hungarian primary care system. The aim of our study is to assess the number and regional distribution of general practices, and the age structure, and work load of GP-s. METHODS: Data derived from the hungarian National Healthcare Centre (NHC) and the National Health Insurance Fund Administration (NHIFA) between the years 2009-2013. Data were analyzed on national and county level as well. Number of GP-s, the staff to patient ratio, number of unfilled practices and the number of migrated GP-s was examined. Descriptive statistics (mean, distribution, chain index) was calculated. RESULTS: Number of full-time GP-s was slightly, but continuously decreasing over the observed years (2009: 1105, 2013: 988, -10,6%). The number of general practices (2009: 6762, 2013: 6650, -1,7%), and the GP staff to patient ratio did not changed (2009: 1408, 2013: 1430, 1,14%). Number of unfilled practices was 203 in 2009, 238 in 2013 (adult: 46, children: 51, mixed: 141). The highest GP staff to patient ratio was in Pest county (1629, 1,22 times higher than in the capital), while the lowest was in Baranya county (1272, 0,95 times lower than in the capital) to 2013. Average age of GP’s was 48,26 years in 2009, it decreased to 45,97 years to 2013, and the ratio of GP-s above 50 years was also decreasing (2009: 94,5%, 2013: 64,1%, - 30,4 %). Migration of GP-s (2009: 887, 2011: 1200,(+35,3%) 2012: 1108 (-7,7%) slowed down by 2012 CONCLUSIONS: The aim of the new Act on Primary care system is to strengthen the primary care system in Hungary. Further examination is needed about the affect of the Act on the capacity of GP-s, and of the population’s health status.