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Vol.18 What is Commonsense?
Vol.17 Risk Management Part2.
Vol.16 Risk Management Part1.
Vol.15 Sense of Balance.
Vol.14 Narrowing the regional
                   disparities in
                   medical services.
Vol.13 What is Civilization?
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Vol.14 Narrowing the regional disparities in medical service.
 The collapse of regional medical services has become a concern in the recent years, and the lack of paediatricians, obstetricians and gynaecologists nationwide has also become an issue.

 From time to time, doctors who devote themselves to providing medical care in underpopulated regions and “genkai shuraku” (super-depopulated communities where residents of 65years and older comprise more than half the population) are reported on the television or in newspapers. Every time I see them, I am impressed by them and am filled with respect for them. However, I must say that such reports themselves are unnatural.

 Here is an idea.

 Among the applicants for medical faculties of national and public universities across Japan, those who desire to work in regional areas are exempt to pay all entrance or tuition fees. In return, they are obliged to work in hospitals and clinics in regional areas for at least 15 years after graduation, and failure to do so will result in repaying the university fees. In addition, the entrance and tuition fees of students who apply for paediatric or obstetrics and gynaecology departments will be halved, and this will need to be paid back if these conditions are not met.

 Once this system is implemented, the number of exempt students can be altered accordingly, as this unbalanced situation is gradually improved.

 Even an outsider like me can understand that it costs a considerable amount of money in order to train somebody to become a full-fledged doctor. This is why the central or local governments should prepare the path to become a doctor for those who are highly talented and enthusiastic, but do not have the financial support, and provide in-depth education of not only medical knowledge, but also emphasising the humanitarian aspect of medical care.

 Is such a system too good to be true?
End.
Masaru Sugaya

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