I don’t have a problem lifting the number of people entering medical school. However, because med school is subsidized, we shouldn’t expect the taxpayers to pick up the additional amount required to expand the number of slots.
That being said, increasing the number of physicians would not likely reduce total healthcare expenditures because although physicians fees do not comprise a large percentage of healthcare costs they do generate healthcare spending via tests, hospital use, medications ordered etc. so increasing their numbers would increase total healthcare spending.
But, if people were paying for most or all of their healthcare, the total expenditures wouldn’t matter. It does matter now because most healthcare has essentially been socialized with taxpayers picking up the bill. Remember, when there were medieval guilds, there were no subsidies for the goldsmiths, cabinet makers, and tailors. They were set up as monopolies and required a licensing fee issued by the king or ruler.
Are you or a friend trying to get into med school?
Are you or a friend trying to get into med school?
No. I’ve just been struck by the many “free market” health care analysts who seem fine with our guild-like system of limiting medical schools, clearly designed protect members of the profession from “too much” competition