In Germany, the general practitioner plays an important role in the allocation process of rehabilitative measures. A survey concerning the questions of need, demand and effectiveness of medical rehabilitation measures as seen from the general practitioner's perspective in Hamburg, Schleswig-Holstein und Halle/Saale (n = 956) in 1999 shows that general practitioners have a rather positive attitude towards rehabilitation in general. With regard to the different measures within the rehabilitation system they show a differentiated opinion. As they see a large percentage of over- and underuse of rehabilitation they would appreciate that their information on the patient would be more intensively taken into account in the allocation process.