Remuneration of medical doctors in Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development member countries: a cross-sectional study

Purpose: This study examined doctor remuneration data across Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries using both OECD reports and supplemental salary data sources, and analyzed the correlation between remuneration levels and healthcare indices.Methods: Doctor salaries, general wages, and other healthcare indices were obtained from OECD reports. Additional internet sources providing information on physician and general salaries were also referenced. For each country, the ratio of specialist salary to the average worker’s salary was calculated, and its correlation with various healthcare indices was evaluated using linear regression analysis.Results: Among the 38 OECD member countries, 7 did not provide salary data, and only 4 countries explicitly reported full salary data. On average, specialist salaries were 2.59 times higher than the average worker’s salary (standard deviation, 0.89). In the 7 countries where OECD reports did not provide specialist salary data, the salary ratio calculated from alternative sources tended to be higher than in countries with OECD data available. The number of computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and positron emission tomography scanners was positively associated with remuneration levels, whereas the percentage of the population covered by public insurance showed a significant negative association.Conclusion: OECD specialist salary data may not accurately reflect actual salaries in many member countries. The publication of inaccurate data can have serious consequences, especially when misused for political purposes, potentially leading to widespread distrust and policy missteps.