We can see that medical specialties are very popular due to aging, life expectancy and the habits of the population. In addition, the rapid advance of science, leads to give great importance to patient care, which makes doctors guide their knowledge in each of the areas of medicine.
In fact, today, private clinics have been created, which unite different specialties in one place, seeking to offer health solutions in a comprehensive manner. However, in many of the Latin American countries, the number of specialists is insufficient to meet the demand for health. Especially due to overpopulation, lack of access and geographic distribution.
The medical specialties combine the study, preparation and vocation of service of health professionals, with the specific needs of the patient.
Hence, new medical specialties emerge every day, such as epidemiology, traumatology, pathological anatomy and geriatrics, among many others. They want to be at the forefront of the changes that are emerging worldwide in this century; migration, population aging, emergence of chronic and degenerative diseases, uneven geographic distribution and epidemics.1
Thus, as in countries such as Mexico, it can be observed that Urology, gynecology and reproductive biology are the branches of medicine most welcomed in the population, with a high rate of interconsultation. While occupational medicine and neuropathology have a low percentage. However, the year 2020 made the consultation of psychiatry and psychology show high rates of popularity.1
However, the social, economic and political situation of the regions means that on some occasions medical specialties are offered that are not really the ones that are most needed in the community. Since the increase in respiratory diseases, in recent times, have made pulmonology and internal medicine catapult as the most recognized medical specialties in the world.
However, there are other medical specialties such as cardiology, neurosurgery and gastroenterology, which never lose their validity. Even more so, when the diseases developed by poor diet, sedentary lifestyle and high levels of stress are at the peak. In addition, gynecology and obstetrics are also among the first places of interest, since it is relevant to take care of maternal-fetal health and reduce morbidity and mortality rates.2
Caring for the welfare of the community
In the field of medical specialties, health professionals seek to achieve high professional competence; with the help of research and innovation; in order to detect, treat and cure different health problems. It is if, as the academic training never ends and they rely on new technologies; like radiodiagnosis; to improve the living conditions of the population. 3
In this way, we can conclude that the knowledge and expertise of medical specialists are of vital importance to safeguard the health of the individual. However, it is necessary that a greater number of people can have access to this kind of services. Therefore, governments must establish public health policies, where inclusion is a priority.
References:
1.Gerhard Heinze-Martin, Víctor Hugo Olmedo-Canchola, Germán Bazán-Miranda, Napoleón Andrés Bernard-Fuentes and Diana Patricia Guízar-Sánchez. Specialists in Mexico. Gac. Med Mex. [internet] 2018 [consultado 4 oct 2021]; 154: 342-351. Available in:
https://www.anmm.org.mx/GMM/2018/n3/GMM_154_3_342-351.pdf
2.Rivero Serrano Octavio, Martínez Luis Armando. The current medicine. Rev. Fac. Med. (Mex.) [revista en la Internet]. Apr 2011 [citado 2021 Oct 04]; 54 (2): 21-32. Available in:
http://www.scielo.org.mx/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0026-17422011000200004&lng=es.
3.Escobar Rabadán Francisco, López-Torres Hidalgo Jesús. What determines the choice of a Specialty in Medicine? Rev Clin Med Fam [Internet]. 2008 Oct [citado 2021 Oct 04]; 2 (5): 216-225. Available in:
http://scielo.isciii.es/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1699-695X2008000300005&lng=es.