The below is intended to give a general idea of what it costs to provide GP services; it does not reflect the situation of every GP or clinic.

An individual GP's costs

I've marked some details specific to me in italics and mandatory expenses in bold.

One-off expenses:

• Undergraduate degree - my MD was a postgraduate degree, and I did a Bachelor of Science prior

• Medical degree ($40,000) - I was much luckier than some of my friends who had to pay $280,000 for the same degree

• Specialist postgraduate training to become a GP

  • GP exams ($10,000)

• Equipment

  • Laptop, keyboard, mouse - though I'm quite particular about these things and don't expect most other GPs are buying their own computer peripherals

  • Stethoscope

  • Dermatoscope - I splurged for a DermLite DL5

  • Scrubs

Recurring expenses:

• Clinic service fee - 35% of my earnings

• AHPRA registration - ~$1,000 annually

• Medical indemnity insurance - ~$5-10,000 annually

• Membership with the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners - ~$1,000 annually

• Subscription to Therapeutic Guidelines - essential for practicing up-to-date, evidence-based medicine in my opinion - ~$400 annually

• Educational materials and activities

  • AusPATH conference 2025 ($2,200) - I wanted to learn how to provide good quality gender-affirming healthcare

Miscellaneous:

• Income tax (like everyone)

• My own annual leave

• My own sick leave

• My own superannuation

Let me know if I forgot anything!

A clinic's operational costs

• Rent/mortgage

• Staff: practice manager, reception staff, nursing staff

• Cleaning

• Utilities:

  • Electricity, water, internet, phone

  • Website hosting

  • Security

  • IT support

• Accreditation - every 3 years

• Normal office stuff:

  • Computers, printers, server, shredding service

  • Chairs, desks

  • Phones

  • Milk, tea, coffee etc.

  • Stationery etc.

• Medical stuff:

  • Practice management & clinical software licenses

  • Online booking service

  • Otoscopes and ophthalmoscopes

  • Blood pressure machines, thermometers, pulse oximeters

  • Dermatoscopes

  • ECG machine

  • Defibrillator

  • Electrocautery machine and other surgical instruments

  • Autoclave and ultrasonic cleaner

  • Routine testing and servicing of above

  • Furniture - waiting room chairs, examination couches

  • Consumables

    • Disposable components of above equipment

    • Gloves, dressings, anaesthetic, antiseptic, etc.

    • Liquid nitrogen service