According to a report issued by the Hawaii/Pacific Basin Area Health Education Center at the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine, the state of Hawaii is currently facing a physician shortage of approximately 700 doctors and that number is expected to double by 2020. The report noted that Hawaii currently has 2,795 doctors but needs 3,537. Furthermore, the state has half the number of specialists necessary to support Hawaii's population.
The growing shortage is being caused by a high number of doctors from the Baby Boomer generation retiring, and the fact that the state of Hawaii does not train enough doctors in house to keep up with the demand. As a result, Hawaii is constantly trying to recruit new doctors from the mainland, who are frustrated with the higher cost of living that Hawaii has to offer. Josh Green, the state Senate Health Chairman, stated that he hopes to work with other lawmakers to expand the John A. Burns School of Medicine by at least 15 to 20 percent to help meet the needs of the Hawaii. Green commented, "We need to work with a team to get more people to commit to primary care. If people continue to leave the islands, our system will crash."
Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 9-6-2014, www.staradvertiser.com
Posted by Jeff Uyemura-Reyes, Principal Broker, REALTOR®
Global Executive Realty, LLC
www.myhawaiihomesearch.com
www.myhawaiicondo.com
www.myhawaiidreamhome.com
