British GPs 'get extra incentives'
NHS GPs are more likely to receive extra financial incentives than in 10 other countries, according to a report.
In a poll of more than 10,000 primary care doctors from 11 developed countries, 89% of British respondents reported they received or had the potential to receive extra financial support.
These were based on factors such as achieving targets (84%), managing patients with chronic disease (82%) and patient satisfaction (49%).
New Zealand was in next place with a figure of 80% overall, while at the bottom of the scale 10% of Swedish doctors reported the presence of incentives.
The findings emerged in a survey by the US think tank the Commonwealth Fund, published in Health Affairs.
It included a sample of 1,062 doctors working in the UK, the majority in England.
According to the authors, the high levels of financial incentives in the UK were likely to be down to changes to NHS contracts for GPs in England in 2004 and the introduction of a "quality and outcomes framework".
The subject of GP pay has long been the subject of controversy.
A report from the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee published in October last year said the new contract made it too easy for doctors to earn high salaries through performance-related pay.
The study followed a report from the National Audit Office (NAO) earlier last year which showed GP partners who run practices had seen their pay increase 58% since 2002/03 to £113,614 in 2005/06.