The Radiologist Shortage is Real Critical medical images often sit for hours or days before a radiologist can review them. For many hospitals, this is reality. Key facts: The U.S. is projected to face a shortage of 17,000 to 42,000 radiologists by 2033. Globally, there are ~345,475 radiologists, but distribution is uneven. Low-income countries may have fewer than 2 radiologists per million people. This shortage delays diagnoses, stretches hospital resources, and impacts patie