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Comment by Cumpiler69 | Hacker News Reader

That's pretty crazy considering Denmark is touted as a socialist utopia where the taxes are high but it's worth it because the government supposedly takes care of everything for you. I'd expect them to have figured out the doctors' shortage but this problem seems endemic in every country.

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In EU, there is a severe shortage of MDs. Part of the problem is that the number of students is not sufficient to satisfy MD demand. In some countries, this is a deliberate policy imposed by MD lobbies, who act like a cartel. In other countries, the job is simply not attractive due to relatively low salaries and high workload. So students choose other degrees, or they immigrate after graduation. Furthermore, an aged population and lack of adequate policy planning does not help.

Sounds like it's a problem in most of the developed world.

It sounds like it, but no evidence has been provided.

A. This is exactly what is to be expected.

If high-skill jobs are compensated (relatively) less, workers are less incentivized to pursue those jobs, or they move to other markets.

B. Capitalist countries like the U.S. are not completely immune to his phenomenon either.

Are doctors in USA emigrating to other countries? Or do you mean across state lines?

Sorry, I mean that USA has doctor (particularly specialists) shortages as well.

This is the thing, even in the US with salaries 2/3/4x those in Europe, people in much of the country can get appointments for the better part of a year.

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