April 23, 2011
That is the implication of an NYT article on the decline in the number of physicians in independent family practices. The article argues that long hours and uncertain pay make it unattractive for physicians in the United States. This may be true given the extent to which the doctors’ lobbies have been able to limit the number of people licensed to practice medicine in the United States. However, there is a huge supply of people in the developing world who would be willing and able to train to U.S. standards and work under the conditions described in the article. If the Obama administration and Congress were not so completely dominated by protectionists, they would be working to eliminate the barriers that are making it more expensive for people in the United States to get health care.
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