In the region of Akita, Japan, there's a looming crisis as surgical units are teetering on the edge of collapse due to an acute shortage of physicians. Hospitals are struggling to maintain regular services against the backdrop of an increasing patient load. The authorities are under pressure to devise strategies to mitigate the situation, the solutions for which are yet unclear. Severe repercussions on public health are anticipated if the issue remains unchecked.

In Japan, healthcare ranks high on societal concerns. Japan's rapidly aging population makes the topic particularly concerning as pressure on the healthcare system intensifies. Moreover, regional inequality in healthcare resources - with rural areas like Akita faring worse than urban regions - is a serious issue. Legal efforts and social initiatives aim to distribute healthcare resources evenly and to ensure that high-quality medical services are universally accessible.

Similar to Japan, the US also faces a projected physician shortage. However, the United States has adopted multiple strategies like implementing telemedicine and increasing reliance on midlevel practitioners like nurse practitioners. In contrast, the EU also has healthcare staff shortages but mitigates this by intra-EU migration and international recruitment.