Health-Manpower Needs

Although some may claim that the current legislation is largely the result of political pressures rather than a perception that a great need exists for more physicians in this country, the continued expansionist policies of Congress in increasing the number of physicians deserves examination.

Abstract

Congress has temporarily settled the health-manpower controversy with its compromised, but still controversial, legislation. As a condition for federal capitation support of medical schools, the new law requires a 5 per cent increase in third-year medical-school classes from defined new pools of potential applicants. Although some may claim that the current legislation is largely the result of political pressures rather than a perception that a great need exists for more physicians in this country, the continued expansionist policies of Congress in increasing the number of physicians deserves examination.Even when the figure of a 50,000-physician shortage suddenly sprang on the . . .