I don't think that is the answer. Can every student in the USA who is willing and capable of being a doctor get into med school? I would guess that this is probably not the case.
Increasing the number of doctors produced locally would seem to me to be a much easier way of increasing supply.
> Can every student in the USA who is willing and capable of being a doctor get into med school?
No, but it's not because they aren't good enough. In grad school, I TA'd a physics class for pre-med students, which were widely considered to be one of the most miserable and obnoxious groups to teach. Each student felt entitled to an A, even though the department mandated that only 25% of students could receive an A. In reality, probably more than 80% of the class earned an A, and I would have felt comfortable that most of the rest were smart enough to one day give me medical advice.
Yet, less than 45% of people who applied to one or more medical schools [1] are admitted (and this is a self-selected group: those without 4.0 GPAs, three extra-curriculars, and a side-business of helping old ladies across the street generally don't apply). I would estimate that only about the top 15% to 25% of the class actually applied. So, from undergrad pre-med to MD, there is about a (hand-wavy) 90% attrition rate of people who are probably smart enough and probably willing to work hard enough, and who have the desire to become doctors.
> Increasing the number of doctors produced locally would seem to me to be a much easier way of increasing supply.
I agree, but the medical profession is not willing to allow this to happen. Each medical school has a quota, and nobody wants to rock the boat. The trouble is, there isn't really any way to force medical schools to admit more students.
Increasing the number of doctors produced locally would seem to me to be a much easier way of increasing supply.