NHS Tayside bosses faced a grilling on GP working hours at the board’s annual review.
Dr Joseph Magro told the meeting at Ninewells Hospital that the number of GPs available out of hours was reaching a “crisis point”.
He said that on one bank holiday weekend as many as 16 GP shifts were left empty.
NHS Tayside’s medical director, Dr Andy Russell, said he was aware of the issues and that health boards were working to resolve any difficulties.
He added: “What has happened in the last 10 years is that the world has moved on.
“The Scottish Ambulance Service’s role has changed, NHS 24 which was in its infancy in 2004 has also fundamentally changed its role.
“The expectations around seven-day working have changed, and also the opportunities for health and social care integration have become more effective, particularly in terms of working with our local authority partners and volunteers.
“The terms and conditions for GPs working out of hours are not set nationally, it is determined by the boards and we are looking to make the terms of conditions as attractive as possible in Tayside.”
The discussion was one of the few issues raised at the largely positive meeting at which Lesley McLay, NHS Tayside’s chief executive, set out the successes of the last financial year, as well as issues to be tackled in the future.
She highlighted a number of successes, including smashing targets on child healthy weight intervention, smoking cessation and 18 weeks from referral to treatment.
The board also balanced its budget for the 2013-14 financial year while making millions of pounds in efficiency savings.
NHS Tayside chairman Sandy Watson also said there were continued improvements in reducing hospital infections.
He told the meeting: “Our performance to reduce healthcare associated infection in 2013-14 showed a 22% reduction in clostridium difficile (C diff). There has also been an 8.5% reduction in staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections,” he added.