OBJECTIVES: In the recent years the ambulatory care gained an increasing role in Hungary and also in other countries. It is a development opportunity considering professionally and economically at the same time for health care institutes to decrease the length of hospitalization through to care the most patient in an ambulatory way. The aim of our study was to analyze the changes of the number of health care professionals in ambulatory care in Hungary.

METHODS: Data derive from the database of the Health Registration and Training Center (OSAP Nr. 1626 data collection programme). We analyzed the following health care professionals working in ambulatory care: general practitioners, specialist physicians, dentists, specialist dentists, nurses, physiotherapists, health visitors between 2010-2015. We calculated the changes of the weighted average number in these professions. Our analysis also included items reported under governmental function, specialist duties and former specialist duties.

RESULTS: Between 2010 and 2015 the weighted average number of ambulatory care professional increased by 73%. In 2010, we observed the highest number by the specialist physicians (1,847) and the lowest number by the nurses (146). In 2015, we found the highest number also by the specialist physicians (1,375) but the lowest number was seen by the dentists and specialist dentists (10). In this period, the greatest increase were analyzed by the nurses (+53%), by the physiotherapists (+33%) and the greatest decrease were analyzed by the dentists and specialist dentists (-96%) and by the health visitors (-80%).

CONCLUSIONS: Between 2010-2015 there was some remarkable decrease in the number of some health care professionals in ambulatory care in Hungary, and these changes showed significant differences among different professionals. Nurses’ and physiotherapists' number showed increase to compared to the others. Further human resourses development need to improve our health system efficiently.