Background – Dutch health care practice is constantly changing. What is the effect of regional characteristics on the shaping of the general practitioner practice? This research will focus on different socio-demographic, physical and organizational aspects of the health care demand and supply in the GGD regions of Amsterdam and Groningen and evaluated from a general practitioner perspective. The question to be answered is: “What is the impact of regional differences in the development of general practitioner practice?”

Aim – to conduct a comparative analysis of a rural and urban region in the Netherlands, in order to find characteristics that could potentially benefit or hinder certain aspects of general practitioner housing. Design and setting – Information obtained from statistical data and interviews with health care organizations. Method – The research will follow a mixed methods design: an explanatory sequential mixed method. Firstly, statistical data of the demand side (demographics, geographic and income) will be collected. Then, an analysis will be made on the supply side. Finally, follow-up interviews will be conducted with several general practitioners to gain a deeper understanding of their experiences and motivations.

Results – People seek and need care more often in Amsterdam. People in Groningen are more independent, thus often taking care of each other rather than seeking professional care. Urban patient issues are more often connected to socio-economic issues, asking for a more holistic picture of the patient. Merging GP practices is inevitable for feasibility: it provides more robust structures in terms of financial business case and availability of staff. The potential of combining practices is larger in urban regions like Amsterdam due to overall closer proximity and the overlap of service areas. Collaboration with fellow health care professionals is viewed as crucial for all GPs regardless of the regions in order to provide effective care. Local structures serve twofold functions: the sharing of staff and more frequent and personal consultations. Regional structures can take a lead role in the distribution and effective organization of care. National organizations coordinate nation-wide policy that needs regional alignment and finetuning. In both financial and legal matters, there are improvements to be made. Future plans and organizations are set up nation-wide, a regional coordination approach is more effective in tackling local issues while still having the impact of a larger collaboration.

Conclusion – The impact of regional differences on general practitioner practice is significant. It has many elements and they should be addressed in order to effectively cope with current challenges in the sector. Practical implications – This research provides actionable insights for involved actors to understand and to account for regional differences in the shaping of the general practitioner care practice and system.