Focus on the real problem

Editor:

(1) In a recent well-written guest commentary, Sherry Hull tells us the advantages of health insurance for all. Van Allen, president of a Missouri physician recruitment firm, believes insurance is not the problem. A lack of doctors is!

(2) To introduce 50 million new patients into a system that cannot deal with the present workload could result in a far worse health-care crisis.

(3) Better to emphasize preventive medicine and more public eduction to ease patient demand. Tort reform and protecting physicians from predatory lawsuits will help stop their leaving the profession. In 2007, the Massachusetts Medical Society found that 37 percent of doctors in their state were considering leaving the profession thanks to rising liability costs, increasing administrative burdens and lawsuits.

(4) More medical schools, expansion of medical tuition forgiveness for those entering public service, federal grants or tax incentives for schools (including nursing) that qualify and encouragement of qualified foreign physicians and RNs will go far in helping us out of this present and ever growing morass!

Frank Lambert, retired clergyman, Green Valley