Editors: JOHN P. HUBBARD.
A MONTH ago attention was called to the fact that the U. S. Public Health Service and the U. S. Children's Bureau have been urged to study the problem of medical education and make plans to subsidize medical schools. This recommendation fell on fertile soil, and may be expected to bear fruit in the near future. It is timely, therefore, to review the extent to which medical education is already supported financially by the federal government.
The National Cancer Institute, a branch of the National Institute of Health of the U. S. Public Health Service, has been allowed a total appropriation of $14,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1948. In addition to providing for cancer research, the act which establishes the Institute (Public Law 244 of the 75th Congress) authorizes the Surgeon General "to provide training and instruction in technical matters relating to the diagnosis and treatment of cancer; to provide fellowships in the Institute from funds appropriated or donated for such purpose." In accordance with this authorization, $1,500,000 has been allocated for the current fiscal year for "medical school education grants." Grants not to exceed $25,000 are allowed for four-year medical schools for teaching related to cancer; grants not to exceed $5,000 for the two-year schools; and grants not to exceed $5,000 for dental schools.