Report: U.S. Facing Doctor Shortage

The aging of the baby boom generation in the United States has caused an increase in demand for medical treatment, but medical quality is getting worse due to a shortage of doctors, the Los Angeles Times reported on June 5. This newspaper said there is a report that says in the next couple of years, there will be a shortage of doctors in 12 states, including California, Texas and Florida. It added that soon there will be a nationwide shortage of medical specialists in at least ten fields, such as cardiology, radiology, pediatric and surgical departments.

Medical schools are being pressured to increase the number of enrollments to prepare for the increasing demand for medical treatment. The scale of medical school graduates has been the same for 25 years out of concern of producing too many doctors.

Lawmakers also consider it an urgent task to prepare for a physician shortage, looking to lift the cap on funding for physician training and easing the limit on immigration of foreign doctors.

Jin Lee leej@donga.com