The Foreign Medical Graduate and Public Policy: A Discussion of the Issues and Options

Abstract

This paper analyzes four basic reasons for curtailing the number of foreign medical graduates (FMGs) entering the United States: the loss to less-developed countries, the possible lower quality of medical care delivered by FMGs, the inability of all U.S. citizens who desire to receive a medical education to do so, and the fear of a possible surplus of physicians in the U.S. For each of these concerns, alternatives are presented and analyzed according to how well they would achieve their objectives. Based on the options proposed for reducing the number of FMGs, the conclusion is reached that the primary concern at present is an oversupply of U.S. physicians.