- There are fewer rural family doctors now.
- The number fell since 2017.
- In 2017 there were 11,847 doctors.
- In 2023 there were 10,544 doctors.
- This is a loss of 1,303 doctors.
- People aged 25-44 move to rural areas.
- Doctors do many tasks and work too much.
- More women are family doctors now.
- Possible fixes include more pay and training.
Difficult words
- doctor — A person who helps sick people.doctors
- rural — Related to areas outside cities.
- physician — A medical doctor or expert.physicians
- family — Related to home and parents.
- care — Help for someone who is sick.
- lose — To not have something anymore.lost, loss
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think there are fewer doctors in rural areas?
- How can we help people in rural areas get better care?
- Do you think more doctors will move to rural areas in the future?
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