OBJECTIVES: The aim of our study was to analyse the changes in the number of practising physicians working in OECD countries in Europe.

METHODS: Data analysed were derived from the OECD Health Database. European countries were categorised according to type of health care system: Bismarckian-like solidarity based health insurance system or Beveridge-like national health system. Our data relate to those practising physicians that were exclusively engaged in medical work during the period under examination in the given country. Years between 1980 and 2015 were analysed.

RESULTS: In CONCLUSIONS: During the period between 1980 and 2015, countries having the Beveridge-like system showed a higher increase in the number of practising physicians than countries with the Bismarck system. The difference was not significant.