BRUSSELS, 07/05/2026 – A General Practitioner’s (GP’s) decision to settle in a specific region or practice is shaped far more by proximity to family, a partner’s job and a good connection with colleagues than by financial incentives offered by the government. That is the conclusion of a large-scale study by the Interuniversity Centre for GP Training (ICHO), led by the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) and recently published in the European Journal of General Practice. The survey, conducted among nearly 800 doctors who graduated over the past ten years, sheds new light on shortages in underserved GP areas.
Lead author and GP Dr Lotta Coenen (VUB), together with representatives from the four Flemish universities, investigated what motivates GPs in their choice of practice. The results show that the “GP of the future” is making a clear choice for collaboration and quality of life. The era of the solo GP, available day and night, appears to be definitively over.
Staying close to home: the 25-kilometre rule
The study highlights a striking tendency among GPs to stay local. A large majority continue to work within a 25-kilometre radius of where they completed their training. The choice for a particular municipality is often pragmatic: doctors settle where their partner works, where their children go to school or where family members live. Of the respondents, 93.4% reported that they are still working as GPs, confirming the long-term sustainability of the profession — provided the right conditions are in place.
The importance of the practice and the team
Alongside geographical location, the internal organisation of a practice strongly influences its appeal. Today’s doctors are looking for:
- Group practices and balance: There is a strong preference for collaborative practice models. These allow doctors to maintain a healthy work-life balance while ensuring continuity of care without sacrificing their own wellbeing.
- Interpersonal dynamics: Relationships with colleagues are crucial. Mutual respect and a shared vision of care and work-life balance are the main reasons doctors choose to stay in a practice — or leave when conflicts arise.
- Freedom and variety: Professional autonomy and the wide variety of medical cases — from young to old — remain the strongest intrinsic motivators.
Support matters more than financial bonuses
The study suggests policymakers should rethink how they make underserved GP areas more attractive. Financial incentives, such as the €20,000 interest-free loans offered in the past, often failed to achieve their goal. Only a limited number of doctors indicated that financial incentives would be decisive in their choice.
Instead, there is strong demand for practical and administrative support. Municipalities that invest in assistance with housing, childcare or reducing administrative burdens stand a far better chance of attracting new talent.
About the study
The survey was sent to 2,706 alumni, of whom 772 respondents (a response rate of 26.7%) completed the full demographic and motivation questionnaire. Nearly three-quarters of respondents (70.9%) were women. The study was conducted by the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) in collaboration with the universities of Ghent, Leuven and Antwerp, on the initiative of and under the umbrella of ICHO.
Reference
Coenen, L. E., Maseman, M., Lobbestael, J., Gielis, G., Gils, A., Vansintejan, J., & Van Rossem, I. (2026). Motivational factors for general practice training and career establishment: A cross-sectional study in Flanders, Belgium. European Journal of General Practice, 32(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/13814788.2026.2628411