Japan Press Weekly

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2008 January 16 - 22 [SOCIAL ISSUES]

Health minister: To increase number of doctors will make them homeless

“It takes 10 years to train doctors. If we sharply increase the number of doctors now to deal with the current shortage, they will become surplus and homeless 10 years later,” said Health Minister Masuzoe Yoichi at a meeting with residents in Iida City (Nagano Pref.) on January 19.

He made this remark in response to participants who asked him to solve the serious shortage of local obstetricians and improve doctors’ severe working conditions.

Is Masuzoe qualified to be health minister?

Japan’s number of doctors per population ranks 27th among the 30 member countries of the OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development). Japan needs 120,000 to 140,000 more doctors to meet international standards.