- All medical students must comply with 12 months of social service in order to complete their degree.
- The biggest complaints are the conditions in which they must comply with this facet because most are sent to remote rural areas.
- While in return each one only receives a minimum scholarship that is not enough to pay for basic needs.
The path that all aspiring doctors must travel is quite extensive throughout the world. Although there is a section that is exclusive in Mexico and it is the Compulsory social service in Medicine. In no other nation does it happen, at least not in the conditions in which it is done in our country.
In this case, in order to fulfill the dream of being a professional doctor, it is not enough to graduate from university and do a year of rotation in a hospital. The last part and that no one can avoid is completing 12 months of community service.
Conventionally it is stated that the sustenance of this stage is thank and give back to society for everything that is invested in young university students. Although the strange thing is that even private school students must abide by this obligation.
Non-existent security conditions
Now then, what generates more annoyance is the way in which the social service in Medicine in Mexico. The selection is made by average of the race and the highest have the possibility of choosing first. Naturally, they usually choose the option of working in a research center or in a hospital close to their home.
The problem is that the places for these options are minimal. Instead, the vast majority cannot choose because the only option is to fulfill their social service in a rural community. These are health centers in remote places that lack basic supplies. As a consequence, a proper service cannot be offered and makes patients angry.
As a result of the above, it has become daily to notify attacks by people against medical interns. In most cases they are found in places where there are not even police elements or they are insufficient. While the worst thing is that there are not a few deadly outcomes where the lives of young people who aspired to be doctors are lost.
About this point, the user @Doctormobii, who is originally from Baja California, shares his experience. Because of his place of residence, he was able to do his internship in a hospital in the United States and what he observed is that there is no compulsory social service in medicine there.
Exploitation of cheap labor
What you mention is that this requirement was implemented in Mexico due to the lack of health professionals and to save money. In this way, the government requires students to carry out the same activities as a doctor and in exchange only offers them a minimum scholarship.
@doctormobii Replying to @Dani11dpa
For their part, it is not only about insecurity but also about the entire workload that they must fulfill. In most cases, it is greater than the eight hours a day established by law.
For now, despite the multiple complaints and demonstrations, it seems that the Mexican authorities have no intention of changing to guarantee the safety and protection of the students.
Also read:
Doctor proposes to add these 4 options instead of social service in Medicine
Why should private school doctors do social service?
Doctors ask to stop romanticizing social service: “Going to a rural area does not make you a better doctor”