Letter: Shortage of doctors could be disastrous

Health care in Hawaii is in crisis (“Supply of doctors continues to fall behind Hawaii’s growing demand,” Star-Advertiser, Sept. 10). There is a 41% shortage of doctors on the Big Island, 39% on Maui and 30% on Kauai. A full quarter of Hawaii physicians have delayed retirement and are still practicing beyond age 65. This has prevented a crisis from becoming a disaster. Mahalo.

But 700 doctors will retire soon. If every single graduate of our medical school stays in Hawaii, it will take 10 years to replace 700 doctors. Simple math demonstrates the physician shortage will go from bad, to worse, to awful. Shortages on neighbor islands will soon exceed 50%. This means our families will have extremely limited access to primary care physicians and specialists. It may take months to see a physician for non-emergent health care.

It is time to take on the political and economic challenges that have led to this crisis.

John Lauris Wade, M.D.

Legislative liaison, Hawaii Radiologic Society Hilo

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