Moms and Dads everywhere want their kids to grow up and be doctors. Especially in the U.S. How else can anyone pay for health care unless you can get your own kids to treat you?

In Japan, there's a doctor shortage. You'd think that students would want to fill the need, especially if it is relatively easier to do so.

It's not happening.

1.  Everybody in Japan has health coverage. What that means is that doctors work grueling hours - think 36 hours straight. Doesn't take long before the doctoring needs doctoring.

2.  Japan's population is ageing rapidly. Foreign doctors aren't allowed to practice and doctors have salary caps.

3. "Level-two" hospitals, those which treat common injuries are declining. Level-three hospitals, those for emergency services, are picking up the slack. Patients being accepted for lesser injuries are putting at risk those who come in with serious injuries. What's a doctor to do?

4.  Doctors face intense emotional and physical stress.

5.  Doctors have no desire to specialize as salaries are kept stagnant by the Japanese government.

6. Instead of busting their rears in hospitals, capable people are choosing to set up a private shop, write prescriptions for eye glasses or dispense the same medicine to clear up an ear, nose or throat ache. The pay is the same as that of the doctor in an overworked emergency unit.

In 2006, Japan finally let nurses from the Philippines go to work in the country. Can they let doctors from other countries in next? 

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