Countries need GPs. As GP numbers decrease pay levels increase. If too many people avoid general practice/family medicine wages WILL increase to encourage more applicants. General Practice is a great job with lots of variability during the working day. One minute you see some one suicidal, then next a happy pregnancy. The interest of the job as well as being able to have an out side life more than compensates for not earning as much as a cardio-thoracic surgeon. By the way, I'm a GP and loving it!