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Mexico Says Annual Output of Medical Specialists Has Doubled to Nearly 19,000

A new merit‑based residency system lets top‑scoring candidates choose their specialty plus training site directly.

Overview

  • President Claudia Sheinbaum and Health Subsecretary Eduardo Clark unveiled the figures at the Dec. 30 La Mañanera press conference in Palacio Nacional.
  • Officials reported roughly 18,962 specialists formed this year and a cumulative 45,000 trained over the past five years in public institutions.
  • Public health employers added thousands of posts to absorb new talent, including 2,816 in the Health Ministry, 4,982 at IMSS, 1,533 at ISSSTE, and 198 in Pemex hospitals.
  • Priority fields saw notable growth, with about 368 more epidemiologists, around 2,400 in emergency medicine, and over 1,000 in traumatology.
  • The revamped assignment process held rounds in late October and December, schedules a final round for Feb. 18, 2026, and sets residencies to begin on March 1, with 18,926 trainees projected for the 2026 cycle.