The Japan Medical Association (JMA), once the most powerful lobby group with mighty political clout, still clings to its position of staunchly opposing any scheme to increase the number of doctors, in order to protect its own vested interests.
As the nation faces an increasing doctor shortage, there have been mounting calls for creating new medical schools. But the JMA is dead-set against that.
At a recent series of meetings of a study group sponsored by the health and welfare ministry, diametrically opposed views were expressed on whether the nation needs more doctors. Leading the proponents of increasing the number of medical students was Kozo Imai, head of the University of Tokyo's Institute of Medical Science. He argued that unless drastic measures are taken, areas like Hokkaido will face an acute shortage of medical doctors.
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