Why are Australian doctors paid so much?

Why Australian doctors are paid so much, with GP earning $180K to $300K and specialist $250K to $500K per year, is due to high training costs, shortage, market demand, and efficient billing. Medical training in Australia takes 6 years plus 5 to 8 years specialist training, with high opportunity cost and student debt $50K to $100K, so high pay compensates for long training and responsibility for life and death decisions. Australia has shortage of doctors especially in rural areas, with GP shortage driving up incomes via supply and demand, with rural GPs earning $300K to $400K with incentives. Medicare fee-for-service allows doctors to bill private fees on top of Medicare rebate, with GP charging $80 to $120 per consult and keeping $40 to $80 gap, seeing 30 to 40 patients per day, generating $300K revenue. Specialists charge $200 to $400 per consult with gap $100 to $300, plus procedural fees $500 to $2,000 for surgery, leading to high incomes. Also, Australia has lower malpractice insurance $10K to $20K versus US $20K to $50K, and lower admin costs, so net income higher. Private practice allows doctors to set fees, and private health insurance funds 40% of elective surgery, providing additional income. Compared to other professions, medicine requires high skill and risk, so market pays premium, though still less than US where doctors earn $250K to $600K. So doctors paid much due to training, shortage, private billing and demand.