Expanding the medical workforce

doi:10.1136/bmj.39265.448715.80

BMJ 2007;335:218-219 (4 August), doi:10.1136/bmj.39265.448715.80

Editorials

Expanding the medical workforce

Is unlikely to be cost effective or produce better outcomesfor patients

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

In a policy marked more by controversy than consensus, medicalschools in the United States have joined the United Kingdomin embarking upon the largest expansion in the training of doctorsin more than a generation. In this week's BMJ, Weiner outlinesthe rationale for this initiative while questioning the Associationof American Medical Colleges' evidence to support such an expansion.¹Given the differences between the US and other countries withinthe Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, canthe US healthcare system provide any generalisable policy lessons?

The question of whether there is or will be a surplus or shortageof doctors is usually answered by projecting today's healthcaresystem into the future. Using this method the answer is simple—becauseof population growth and ageing we need more doctors. However,when we consider how to improve the health and wellbeing ofgrowing populations with limited national funds, a . . . [Full text of this article]

David C Goodman, professor of pediatrics and of community and family medicine

Center for the Evaluative Clinical Sciences, Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, NH 03755, USA

david.goodman@dartmouth.edu