Shortage of doctors

(WASHINGTON - Obama administration officials, alarmed at doctor shortages, are looking for ways to increase the supply of physicians to meet the needs of an aging population and millions of uninsured people who would gain coverage under legislation championed by the president.)

There is a shortage of doctors. No surprise. The doctors' monopoly makes it expensive and painful for one to become a licensed doctor.

According to President Obama it is up to the government to increase the supply of doctors. Another problem for the government to solve. Too many of us look to the government to solve all problems. Other times the government just assumes it is up to them to solve all problems. What hubris. The more problems for them to solve the more power they acquire.

With a shortage of suppliers of health care, the government has also offered to increase the demand for the service by providing universal health insurance. This will only exacerbate the problem by increasing the demand.

When a third party is paying for something it is no surprise that service or product will be in higher demand than if one had to pay directly. With the government providing Medicare and Medicaid insurance there simply is a bigger demand than a supply for the health care services. If there were no health insurance, private or government insurance, the demand for health care would decrease dramatically. Suddenly there would be an oversupply of doctors.

If the government wants to increase the supply of doctors and nurses they should break up the doctor and nurses schools and licensing requirements. There is no reason on earth for a person to be required to spend 8 years of study to learn how to remove a gall bladder.

Since the State says all doctors are licensed that means they all are qualified. Then why do we still look for recommendations when we select a doctor? Why not just pick one from the Yellow Pages?

Charles Tolleson