The Divide in Healthcare for the Next Generation

If you are reading this right now, think back to when you were just a kid. No stress over midterms or getting a job, back when we had nap time in school. Recess with friends was the best memory of your life. Now think back to when you got sick as a kid. Besides your parents, another very important person who probably cared for you was your pediatrician. Children are our future in more ways than just healthcare. They are our future legislators, teachers, CEOs, presidents, and more. But they deserve adequate care now, not just for their future. Yet many kids worldwide lack access to proper healthcare. This disparity leaves our most vulnerable children unprotected and keeps them from reaching their full potential. Is it fair for a child to not have access to proper healthcare, simply due to their location, though?

Part of this inaccessibility stems from a worldwide shortage of pediatricians. Per 100,000 children, there are anywhere from 0.5 to 72 pediatricians. (1) There was also a correlation between each country's income level and the number of pediatricians it had. Higher-income countries had more pediatricians per patient, while lower-income countries had fewer. To put those numbers in context, though, even in the most densely populated areas for pediatricians, there wouldn’t even be a full pediatrician to treat 1000 kids. So, it’s no wonder more people lack access to proper child healthcare. Compare this range to the range of all physicians. Worldwide, there are, on average, 1.9 physicians per 1000 people. (2) It is a bit unfair to compare these two, as one is in the context of all people, and the other is specific to kids. Yet, even at a glance, the numbers show a clear gap. This is not to say other doctors are overly abundant. More physicians and medical staff are needed in many areas. But the extreme shortage of pediatricians worldwide is also worth noting.

From a cultural perspective, the lack of pediatricians in certain areas can also be explained. Many people hold strong cultural beliefs against Western medicine and instead opt for traditional medicine, such as herbs. That alone can lower the number of physicians in an area, not just pediatricians. But a widespread cultural practice, especially in Asia, Latin America, and Africa, is collectivism. (3) This idea holds that decisions are family-centered, meaning no separation of treatment by age group. If the whole family is treated together, there is no need for pediatricians, since pediatricians are specialists, not general practitioners or family medicine doctors. This can also lead to fewer pediatricians and, therefore, less adequate pediatric care worldwide. We should recognize the importance of pediatric care while staying mindful of the causes of these shortages, such as funding and cultural differences.

Pediatric patients are different from adults. They process pain differently, have different specific illnesses, and require special care so as not to scare them. So, they are essential to saving lives and helping our future. After all, when you first got the flu, a pediatrician was the perfect person to turn to.

Designed by: Benny Peng

Reviewed by: Abbie Qiu

References

[1] “Physicians (per 1,000 people) | Data.” World Bank Open Data, https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SH.MED.PHYS.ZS. Accessed 23 October 2026.

[2] “Where are the paediatricians? An international survey to understand the global paediatric workforce.” PMC, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6361365/. Accessed 23 October 2026.

[3] Williams, Kesha Morant. “Collectivist Culture | Definition, Countries & Examples - Lesson.” Study.com, https://study.com/academy/lesson/collectivist-culture-definition-examples.html. Accessed 23 October 2026.