GP practices in Scotland should be subject to similar control-of-entry regulations as pharmacies and change opening hours to benefit patients, an independent think tank has said.

In a policy paper published on Monday, Reform Scotland said patient access to GPs could be improved by increasing competition and called for health boards to consider GP applications "in a similar way to the process to open up a new pharmacy through control-of-entry regulations, which take account of the services the applicant would provide".

The BMA said the proposals showed a "clear lack of understanding of the reality of the work and structure"	More on control of entry GPs eye surgery pharmacies despite 100-hour demise Control of entry: what the changes mean for you FAQ: Farewell, 100 hours
	However, an existing GP practice in the area "should not be an obstacle" to a new market entrant, the policy group added. The think tank contrasted GP opening hours unfavourably with pharmacies, warning current policies did not benefit patients.

"Why is it unthinkable that a private sector contractor [like GPs] be open later in the evening or at weekends to better meet the needs of its patients – after all, the pharmacists that dispense the medicine often are. It's time the system was designed to meet the needs of patients rather than the practice owners."

The British Medical Association (BMA) disagreed with the proposals, warning they showed a "clear lack of understanding of the reality of the work and structure".

"A proportion of services provided by practices are agreed locally between heath board and individual practices according to local priorities," said Alan McDevitt, chair of the BMA's Scottish General Practitioners Committee.