The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) indicates that on average there are 3.7 doctors, 9.2 nurses, and 4.3 beds for every thousand inhabitants internationally. In comparison, Mexico has only 2.5 doctors, 9.2 nurses, and one bed for every thousand inhabitants. The rector of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) highlighted the importance of social service as an act of reciprocity, urging future doctors to give back to society with dedication and solidarity, utilizing the public education they received.
Of the 1,529 medical students from UNAM, 303 will be assigned to rural communities, where their work will be vital to ensure medical attention in remote and vulnerable areas. On the other hand, 215 doctors will be deployed in urban areas such as Mexico City, San Luis Potosí, Sonora, Querétaro, Durango, and Morelos, to strengthen primary care in densely populated areas. Additionally, 547 interns will participate in public health and social assistance programs, while 437 doctors will be involved in various areas such as teaching, medical care, public health, research, and cultural extension.
A research program will count on the cooperation of 27 students, contributing to improve clinical practice and health policies in Mexico, with the hope of generating significant changes in the national health system. Mexico currently allocates 5.5% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to health, a percentage lower than the OECD average, which is 9.2%, emphasizing the need to reinforce the national health system.
Given the growing concern about the quality and coverage of health services, the Mexican government plans to sign an agreement with Cuba in July 2024 to incorporate Cuban doctors into 282 basic and community hospitals in Mexico, aiming to strengthen the public health system. In this context, the rector of UNAM, Leonardo Lomelí Venegas, called for increased funding for the health sector to ensure equitable care for the entire population.
During the Hippocratic Oath, attended by the 1,529 medical students from UNAM, Lomelí emphasized the deficiencies of the Mexican health system regarding medical and hospital staff, comparing the figures with those of the OECD.
