The Logic of a “Shortage of Health Manpower”

In the United States, statements about shortages of physicians, dentists, nurses, and allied health manpower have generated controversies. This article indicates how the estimate of a shortage of 50,000 physicians was derived. Such figures have utility but are inadequate for program planning since they do not reflect other elements that impinge on health services. Some logical characteristics of the concept of health manpower are described, and a method of modeling the analytical problem is suggested.