There is a primary care physician shortage in this country. While healthcare demands a large share of our spending, doctors' salaries are actually a small proportion of that.
Primary care is not a popular field for new doctors not because it is difficult but because it pays so little. Medical school tuition has gone up substantially, so much that a doctors choice of specialty is increasingly financial. This is not good for the doctor or the patient.
As a country we need to recognize the extreme sacrifice all doctors go through to get to where they are. We also need to recognize why--to better our health. A healthcare system will prosper, as will the nation's health, when both sides--physician and patient--are well-taken care of.