A dearth of oncologists will lead to a patient blow-out of nearly double the recommended number of new patients per doctor, a new study reveals.
But the patient-blow out is only half the story, an expert says, with the bureaucratic burden on oncologists making the shortage even worse.
There will be between 84 and 156 too few oncologists in 2014, according to the Medical Oncology Group of Australia’s (MOGA) data, published in the MJA this week.
That will result in around 270 new patients per oncologist, well above the recommended 150, the survey sent to all ‘lead clinicians’ in adult oncology practice – private and public – found.
Shortfalls were found in all states and territories across rural and urban settings, with NSW and...
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