Educating a doctor begins in pre-school and continues throughout grade school and high school. People need a solid foundation on which to build expertise in any field.

It isn't only the cost of medical schools that reduces the number of doctors. It is also the limited number of places at the medical schools. I think there are qualified applicants who can't get one of the limited spots. Fewer spots = fewer doctors = more demand = more money for doctors. I do believe that doctors deserve to make good money; they earn it.

Returning to the original topic of the delay in scheduling a colonoscopy:
I would go to another facility, if the first one doesn't open their calendar until the new year is almost upon us. Those types of administrative gaffs might indicate a poorly-run facility.

Good luck to us!