The historical development of physician manpower policy in Taiwan after World War Ⅱ includes three phases: (1) laissez-faire stage (1945-1970), confined to the administration of licensing; (2) expansion stage (1970-1985), focused on the production of physicians; and (3) comprehensive stage (1985-present), concerned with the geographic distribution and quality of physician manpower. The objectives of this paper are twofold: to review the historical progress of physician manpower policy in Taiwan and to examine the policy process and the impact of the physician manpower policy on the supply, geographic distribution and quality of physician manpower in Taiwan.