Doctors in Belgium work longest hours in Europe, study shows

Belgian doctors work an average of 51 hours per week, the highest number in Europe, according to the Mediahuis newspapers. The general physicians (GPs) in Belgium are therefore calling for the creation of a new profession: physician assistant.

The figures comes from a comparative study of doctors' working hours in 34 countries, mostly in Europe but also Australia and Canada. The study reveals that GPs in the Netherlands, for example, work 43 hours a week, while in Sweden they work 34 hours a week, considerably less than Belgium's 51 hours.

"Compared with their European counterparts, Belgian GPs collaborate the least with each other or with other health professions," explains Sara Willems of Ghent University. “They do most of the work themselves.”

The difference also lies in the payment system, as GPs in Belgium are paid according to the number of patients they see. “In other countries, where doctors earn a fixed amount for the care of one patient, they can often afford to hire a nurse or other care worker to take on some of the work load,” says Willems.

GPs are therefore in favour of making the position of physician assistant an officially recognised profession, making it easier to hire someone who can help with administration, as well as simple medical tasks such as drawing blood or first aid care.