Physician shortage a looming national security crisis, researcher says

An academic researcher whose credentials include the James G. Martin Center for Academic Renewal and the Brownstone Institute is sounding an alarm about the growing shortage of doctors in the U.S., writing in an op-ed that by the “mid-2030s” the problem could reach a breaking point.

In a policy perspective published by The Hill, John Mac Ghlionn stated that the country could be facing a deficit of 187,000 physicians over the next decade, something he calls a “crisis” that can’t be fixed by “lazy policy”—poking at H-1B visas, which he equated to “raiding other nations for their medical talent.”

“For decades, American health systems have treated foreign medical schools as an offshore supply chain, pulling doctors out of developing countries to cover the gaps in rural Kansas and inner-city clinics. This is not a wise policy, and it’s certainly not sustainable,” Mac Ghlionn wrote.
He added that the assumption that medical experts from other nations can fulfill the needs of the medical labor market dates back to the 1970s, when panics about public health led lawmakers to believe immigration was a solution. Mac Ghlionn takes issue with that assertion, citing the size and diversity of needs in different parts of the U.S.

“A single pandemic, localized conflict, or sudden shift in immigration policy leaves American waiting rooms completely empty,” he wrote. “A nation of 330 million people cannot subcontract its physiological survival to the diplomatic climate of overseas states.”

The policy researcher went so far as to refer to the increasing shortage of doctors as a “massive national security risk,” asking why regulators can see the wisdom in securing supply chains for microchips but not the lives of his citizens.

In other words, Mac Ghlionn worries an aging population, colliding with a shortage of providers, will ultimately lead to the death of many, many Americans.

“Human bodies are the ultimate critical infrastructure, and a country that cannot heal its own population is inherently vulnerable,” he added.

Homegrown doctors

As for a workable solution, Mac Ghlionn recommended some major policy changes to encourage more people living within the U.S. to go into medicine, without fear it will lead to a lifetime of debt.

He proposes removing the 1997 Medicare residency cap and increasing funding to public medical schools. Further, Mac Ghlionn said the country should consider adopting a framework that offers “full-tuition coverage for domestic students” who pay back their bill by working in underserved counties in the U.S. that are in dire need of new providers.

Further, he thinks all of this is affordable.

“The U.S. throws billions of dollars at defense contractors for military hardware every year without as much as blinking; funding 20,000 new medical residency slots costs a fraction of a single stealth bomber program,” he wrote.

“A superpower capable of splitting the atom and putting human beings on the moon should not be defeated by the simple task of training enough physicians to care for its own citizens,” Mac Ghlionn added.

For more, read his full opinion piece over at The Hill by clicking here.