Resumen

VELA VALDES, Juan. Massive medical training as a key factor of universal health coverage in Cuba. Rev Cubana Salud Pública [online]. 2015, vol.41, suppl.1, pp. 0-0. ISSN 0864-3466.

The comprehensive formation of human resources for health is a requirement for universal coverage. The objective of this paper was to make a historical approach to the educational policies of the revolution related to the formation of physicians, the relevant actions taken in the medical education and how it has become a key factor to achieve universal health coverage as expressed in health indicators of the population. The historical-logical method, the in-depth interviews, the literature review and the documentary analysis were all used together with the study of regulatory and curricular documents and speeches. The periods in which educational policies for the formation of physicians had been encouraged were identified as follows: University Reform, Educational Policy Resolution of the First Congress of the Communist Party of Cuba, Constitution of the Republic of Cuba and various speeches delivered by Commander in Chief Fidel Castro Ruz. Some aspects of the University Reform about the medical training were also analyzed such as the new medical school, new teaching settings, relevant events in the medical formation, number of graduates as doctors, eligibility requirements, types of doctor to be graduated with the new comprehensive formation. Health indicators and health coverage were also examined. The required number of physicians with comprehensive training to implement the health policies, to ensure universal coverage and to accomplish internationalist missions has graduated from the medical schools. Utilizing the human and material resources of the health system is one of the strengths of the Cuban medical education.

Palabras clave : educational policies; medical formation; coverage; health indicators.