This paper considers medical personnel shortages, especially the shortage of physicians, and the different ways to alleviate these shortages. Chapter I gives a brief history (1963-1972) of legislation intended to increase medical manpower supply and Chapter II discusses the causes of the shortage, analyzing the elements affecting demand for medical care in recent years and the elements affecting supply. Chapter III analyzes the possible need for Federal subsidies, pointing out the short-term nature of the problem and the long-term effects of Federal solutions. It also discusses the maldistribution in the supply of medical manpower by geographical area and among specialties. Ways of increasing the productivity of present supply through more efficient utilization are outlined in Chapter IV, while Chapter V questions the priority placed on manpower supply in the struggle to upgrade the level of national health and suggests alternative courses of action. (Author/SB)