Zhodnocení dostupnosti primární péče v krajích České republiky

Abstract

This bachelor's thesis evaluates the availability of primary care in the regions of the Czech Republic between 2015 and 2024. Primary care is understood as the fundamental pillar of the healthcare system, through which the first point of patient contact with healthcare is ensured. The aim of the thesis is to identify regional disparities in the capacity availability of care, to analyse the age structure of physicians, and to determine the regions most at risk in terms of provider network sustainability. The analytical part is based on data from the General Health Insurance Company of the Czech Republic and the Czech Statistical Office, covering four specialisations: general medicine, paediatrics, dentistry, and gynaecology. Using the converted number of workers per 1,000 inhabitants and the average physician age, personnel capacities are assessed across fourteen Czech regions. The results demonstrate a widespread decline in physician capacity and a concurrent ageing of the medical workforce. The Karlovarský, Ústecký, and Moravskoslezský regions are identified as the most at risk, combining low capacity availability with high average physician age and an unfavourable demographic trajectory. The findings may serve as a basis for strategic planning of the primary care provider network and health policy at both regional and national level.