Overseas general practitioners (GPs) and prescription behaviour in England

Abstract

The UK imports many doctors from abroad, where medical training and experience may differ. This study aims to understand how drug prescription behaviour varies in English GP practices with higher shares of foreign-trained GPs. Results indicate that in general prac- tices with a high proportion of GPs trained outside the UK, there are higher prescriptions for antibiotics, mental health medication, analgesics, antacids, and statins, while controlling for patient and practice characteristics. However, we found no significant impact on pa- tient satisfaction or unplanned hospitalisations, suggesting that this behaviour may be due to over-prescribing. Identifying differences in prescribing habits amongst GPs is crucial in deter- mining best policies for ensuring consistent services across GP practices and reducing health inequalities.