US abundance of physicians and international health

American clinicians with careers encompassing both Third World and underserved American populations would benefit both regions and bring new perspectives to foreign policy and domestic health care problems. Application of the parallel concepts of Community-Oriented Primary Care and Health for All should help contain costs and extend access to appropriate clinical care both in the United States and abroad. As American physicians weigh their short- or long-term career options in the post-Graduate Medical Education National Advisory Council era, there is an urgent need both for a specific US policy on international health and for new partnerships to facilitate careers spanning domestic and Third World areas of need.