MAY LACK MEDICAL AID

ARMED FORCES TO TAKE FROM]
} 30,000 TO 60,000 DOCTORS, |

¥

Shortage of Physicians Expected |
, to Force Home Treatment>of

_) » Minor Ailments and Limit |

i Home Calls,

44
ea (By tne Assoctated Press.)

\ATnaANTIc CrTy, June 8 —The|
United States is now faced with]
pérhaps its gravest rationing prob-|
lem—the proper distribution of|
medical care.

Few people have yet considered|
this necessity caused by the calling)
of: thousands of physicians into)
military service. But to physicians
gathering here for the ninety-third
annual meeting of the American
Medical association it is one of the
most acute situations in national
defense.

“Fhe army medical corps has es-
timated that approximately six
doctors are needed for every 1,000
men. These are only the physicians
needed in administration and med-
ical care of soldiers in camps and
hospitals and does not include’
those required for field hospitals,
base hospitals and front line duty,

ag ARMY NEEDS LARGE.

(The number needed to take care
of the army of 4% million to 5 mil-
lion expected to be in service by
J@nuary 1, 1943, is a minimum of
30,000, a. maximum of 60,000, In
addition, Dr. Oren A, Oliver of
Naghville, Tenn., president of the,
American Dental association, de-
clared 11,200 dentists would be re-|
quir
an army
1, million men. 30
have already been called into mili-|

tary service.
“the drain on the nation’s peace-|
time supply of doctors is going to be
terrific, officials of the American
, Medical association declared, since
there are now listed only about 181,-'
530 qualified physicians throughout
the United States, Alaska, Hawaii |
and Puerto Rico. Many of these|
have retired from practice, and ap-|
' proximately 3,700 die each year. In|
1941 approximately 5,700 young)
physicians and refugee doctors from |
foreign countries were licensed to
practice.
&: . MORE NEW DOCTORS.
‘Association officials estimated that
because of increases in medical col-
lege enrollment and the speeding up
ofecourses the number of new physi-
cians should increase by about 25 per
cent during the next four years.
This, however, will not compen-
sate for the number of doctors being
called into army and navy service
and as a result the American people
will be on short medical rations. It
will no longer be possible to call for,
aphysician to treat every cut or
bruise or pain. Only in a severe
emergency will physicians be able to
make house calls and perhaps the
doctor’s first question will be, “Are
yen able to walk?” because about
‘per cent of his practice, usually
minor ailments, must be treated in
his office. He cannot waste tires,
gasoline and particularly time, run-
ning about the countryside.
“Approximately 10,000 physicians,
nurses, public health engineers and
other specialists are expected to at-
tend the annual convention during
the coming week.