title: [Obstetrics and gynecology workforce planning: the Israeli experience 1995-2025].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Currently, there is no current obstetricians and gynecologists' workforce (OBGW) planning in Israel. Forecasting the OBGW is a challenge in order to achieve optimal obstetrics and gynecology care in the next decades.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine the current Israeli OBGW and to describe, using an equation, the future supply of OBGW, until 2025.
  
  
  METHODS
  A descriptive study of past (1995-2006) and future (through 2025) OBGW trends in Israel. An equation was developed to project physician supply until 2025.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No "optimal ratio" exists regarding OBGW to female population ratio. In addition, information regarding OBGW planning is scarce. In Israel, the ratio of OBGW aged < 65 years per 1000 females aged > or = 15 years, was 0.35 in 2006, 23% more than the higher projected ratio from USA for 2005. In 2020, for comparison, the ratio in Israel will be 18% higher than the US ratio. The ratio calculated by the equation presents a plateau of the supply of Ob-Gyn specialists in Israel until 2025. A continued significant growth in the number of Ob-Gyn female specialists, compared with males, is noted. The interpretation of this data requires further evaluation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In order to preserve the quality of care, there is a need for continuous monitoring and structured planning of health care human resources and OBGW in particular. Research and data in this field are scarce and, therefore, there is a need to conduct many additional research studies. Furthermore, additional data collection is needed to evaluate quality of care and its availability according to the relation between manpower needs and expected demands in Israel's health system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Systems Management, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheba, Israel.
authors.forename: Liat
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Salzer
authors.forename: Haim
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Reuveni
authors.forename: Eitan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lunenfeld
authors.forename: Zvi Howard
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Perry
authors.forename: Asaf
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Toker
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006176:Gynecology / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009774:Obstetrics / Q000639:trends; D010820:Physicians / Q000600:supply & distribution* / Q000639:trends; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000639:trends*; D012737:Sex Factors; D000078329:Workforce; D055815:Young Adult