based on the cancer expert s responses to the oecd hcqi questionnaire on systems of cancer care in germany for example the number of internal medicine and other oncology specialists and radiologists is reported to be sufficient across regions and there were only five vacant positions for radiologists in for instance in korea according to the national expert there has been a persisting shortage of pathologists since the late s and on average only between and of residency positions in pathology in training hospitals have been filled in the past ten years canada reports that the lack of pathologists is serious as their average age is increasing and sometimes no replacement is available for retiring pathologists in addition based on the projected needs training positions for radiologists were cut back in the early s but by the late s an increase in diagnostic imaging activities and technological sophistication has led to an increase in demand