Medical trainees as part of the healthcare staff in medical units

Abstract

Introduction: This year marks the 60th anniversary of the Medical Movement in Mexico (1964–1965), which emerged from the disparity between interns and residents identifying as workers, while authorities regarded them as students. As a result, interns and residents became both: students and workers—medical trainees. This raises questions about their importance as part of Mexico’s healthcare workforce.

Objective: To quantitatively describe the significance of medical trainees as members of the healthcare workforce in teaching medical care facilities (EAM), alongside the teaching staff responsible for medical education within those institutions.

Method: Descriptive study. Data were obtained from open databases regarding health resources, published by official Mexican health institutions between 2014 and 2023. Percentages and growth rates were calculated for ten variables: (1) total EAM; (2) EAM with medical personnel; (3) EAM with interns and residents; (4) EAM staffed exclusively by medical trainees; (5) EAM with interns; (6) EAM with social service medical interns; (7) EAM with residents; (8) EAM with physicians engaged in teaching and research; (9) general practitioners and specialists in EAM; (10) total number of medical trainees in EAM.

Results: 69.9% of hospitals include medical trainees; of these, 7.4% have physicians dedicated to teaching and research. 48% of medical care is delivered by medical trainees.

Conclusions: Medical trainees are a foundational pillar of healthcare delivery in Mexico’s health institutions.