[NYTr] Argentina Recognizes Medical Degrees of Doctors Trained in Cuba Date: Tue, 23 Oct 2007 02:38:22 -0500 (CDT) Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit [A more detailed report on the Argentine recognition of the ELAM degrees, from MEDICC's Fall issue, follows PL's news story. -NYTr] Prensa Latina, Havana http://www.plenglish.com Argentine Doctors Graduated in Cuba Welcomed Home in Buenos Aires Buenos Aires, Oct 22 (Prensa Latina) Six Argentinean young doctors, graduated in Cuba, were welcomed in the city of Ensenada, Buenos Aires, on Monday, with the commitment of keeping their professional ethics to serve the Argentinean people. "You studied in the ELAM, Latin American School of Medicine, in Cuba, after a rigorous selection in your country to become doctors of solidarity," said Jose Mayo, second chief of the Cuban diplomatic mission to Argentina, in the welcoming ceremony organized by that locality's Association of Relatives of Students in Cuba. Andres Asencio, president of the Association, was grateful to the people and government of Cuba for the chance their children had to study and share solidarity in Cuba. Susana Georgueti, Public Administration secretary in Ensenada, was at the activity together with representatives of social and solidarity organizations. tac ocs PL-33 MEDICC Fall, 2007 issue http://www.medicc.org/publications/cuba_health_reports/016.php Cuban Medical Degrees Recognized by Argentina By Gloria Giraldo, MPH with Conner Gorry July 3, 2007--Argentinabs government announced its decision June 22 to honor medical degrees from Cuba, affecting over one thousand Argentinean graduates and current students at Havanabs Latin American Medical School (ELAM), and other Cuban higher education institutions. The agreement was the result of years of bilateral consultations and analysis of the ELAM curriculum, which Argentinean authorities concluded was comparable to their domestic medical school course of study. Both governments also recognized the decision as a positive step for Latin American regional integration. Argentina is a pioneer in recognizing the ELAM degree, along with most countries of the English-speaking Caribbean, the Dominican Republic, and the United States.[2] Argentinean students at the Havana ELAM campus said they were relieved to hear the news, bringing them one step closer to medical practice. But they also noted that jobs are still scarce in Argentinabs health sector. Taking a break from studying for final exams, first-year student Anastasia Regalado, from the province of Santiago del Estero told Cuba Health Reports: bthis issue dominated our agenda at the first congress of Argentinean medical students in Cuba, earlier this year. The recognition of our degree opens many doors for us.b The students said the decision has immediate implications for them, as they gear up to donate one week of their summer break to conduct health assessments and education campaigns in their home provinces. They note that recognition of the quality of their education should make communities and local health institutions more receptive to incorporating their skills. ELAM students are given full, six-year scholarships by the Cuban government in return for a non-binding commitment to practice medicine in underserved communities; over 10,000 students from around the world -- the overwhelming majority from the Global South -- have taken Cuba up on the offer. Despite ELAMbs trailblazing strategy for alleviating the global crisis in human resources for health, these new doctors, like any around the world, are worried about finding a job after graduation. Eugenia Amarelle, from Argentinabs Jujuy Province, says brecognizing the degree is a major step. It increases our chances of finding work when we return; but even doctors graduating from Argentinean schools are having a tough time finding jobs.b Daniela Paez, from Santa Fe, also sees the new agreement as a major step in ba journey that will help me and other students here reach our goal of providing medical care in areas of greatest need, particularly in the northern and southern provinces.b Indeed, geographic disparities in access to health services are a serious problem in Argentina, as in many countries. According to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), distribution of health professionals varies greatly in the country, from one doctor for every 132 inhabitants in the most developed provinces, to one for every 500 inhabitants in the most remote, underserved areas.[3] This imbalance is partly because bthere is no integral health program, reflecting a lack of planning and equitable distribution of resources,b a MERCOSUR report found. Despite this, bit is possible to extend health services to the entire population,b if all sectors involved in population health were integrated, the report concluded.[4] And this includes the countrybs new doctors. bThe challenge now is to motivate these young health professionals to return to their communities [and] also for the health system to create viable, sustainable primary and preventive care programs,b says Daniel Gutierrez Rainer, Director of Student Affairs and Professor of Nursing and Medicine at Adventist University in Entre RC-os province. bCubabs health strategies and curricula are needs-based and these students will enrich the Argentinean system with this approach.b Other countries which have yet to recognize the ELAM degrees -- despite continued pressure from graduates, health policy advocates, and underserved populations -- include Brazil and Honduras. Notes & References 1. There are currently students from 29 countries studying on full scholarships at the Latin American Medical School. 2. The nearly 100 US students studying at the Latin American Medical School -- as with any foreign medical graduates wishing to practice in the USA-- must pass the US Medical Licensing Exams (USMLEs or the bboardsb), the standardized tests for new MDs; several ELAM-educated doctors have done so already. 3. Pan American Health Organization. Salud de las AmC)ricas 2002. Washington, DC. 4. Miras-Calvo N. Araujo M. Klein V. Una AproximaciC3n al Sistema de Salud en Argentina. Foro de InvestigaciC3n: Envejecimiento de la poblaciC3n en el MERCOSUR. 2001 Nov: Curritiba, Brazil. For more information: Latin American Medical School Official Site http://www.elacm.sld.cu/ Latin American Medical School Overview & Data http://www.saludthefilm.net/ns/elam.html Application to the Latin American Medical School for US students is coordinated by the Interreligious Foundation for Community Organization/Pastors for Peace, a humanitarian group based in New York. http://www.ifconews.org/MedicalSchool/main.htm * ================================================================= NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us Our main website: http://www.blythe.org List Archives: http://blythe-systems.com/pipermail/nytr/ Subscribe: http://blythe-systems.com/mailman/listinfo/nytr =================================================================