Until 28 years have some of the specialty training programs in Health Sciences that serve to teach resident doctors. Specifically, the 70 percent of medical specialties have syllabi that are over 15 years old. A situation for which they ask for changes from the Federation of Spanish Medical Scientific Associations (Facme) and propose a schedule that specifies which programs will be reviewed each year.
“We have one lack of program review and a schedule is needed (this year 10 will be reviewed, next year 12, etc.) so as not to be in limbo,” says Javier García, president of Facme, in statements to Medical Writing. “We are training doctors in the 21st century with 20th century programs“This is unacceptable,” he adds.
In this sense, it recognizes that it is an issue that medical societies are very concerned and for those who do not understand, a solution is not provided. In fact, there are National Commissions of Specialties (CCNN) who have already prepared reports to update training programs.
Why is this renewal so necessary? Ultimately, it is about guaranteeing the learning updated techniques, skills and knowledge that make it possible to apply the best medical care to patients. According to García, his bet is to start with the oldest.
Unofficial criteria in specialty reports
As can be seen on the website of the Ministry of Health, where all the programs are available, their dates vary. between 1996 and 2023. However, it is known that a large part of the CCNN use unofficial, but more updated, criteria for the preparation of evaluation reports. Especially, to accredit new teaching units and evaluate requests for increases in residents in the units that request it.
Likewise, Facme emphasizes that, according to a survey carried out among its companies, only 30 percent of the final positions announced for the specialties coincide with the places indicated by the CCNN. Furthermore, in 35 percent of the specialties fewer or much fewer places are called than those indicated by the commissions and in 25 percent more or many more places are finally announced of those indicated by the CCNN.
For its part, the Ministry of Health indicated 2024 as date to update 15 training programs. The first specialties to be updated are Anesthesiology and Resuscitation, Cardiovascular Surgery, Thoracic Surgery, Intensive Care Medicine, Nuclear Medicine and Hospital Radiophysics. These six specialties have a program whose publication was in 1996. Secondly, changes will occur in the specialties whose programs date back to 2005: Family and Community Medicine, Preventive Medicine and Public Health and Occupational Medicine. Behind them are those that were updated in 2006: Pediatrics, Radiation Oncology, Allergology, Endocrinology and Nutrition, Pediatric Surgery and Hematology.
Dates of medical specialty programs
Divided by their last updated date, the specialties remain like this:
nineteen ninety six: Anesthesiology and Resuscitation; Cardiovascular Surgery; Thoracic Surgery; Intensive medicine; Nuclear medicine; and Hospital Radiophysics
2005: Family and Community Medicine; Preventive medicine and public health; and Occupational Medicine.
2006: Allergology; Clinical Analysis; Pathological anatomy; Clinical Biochemistry; Pediatric Surgery; Endocrinology and Nutrition; Clinical Pharmacology; Hematology and Hemotherapy; Immunology; Microbiology and Parasitology; Radiation Oncology; Pediatrics and its specific areas; and Urology.
2007: Angiology and Vascular Surgery; Cardiology; General and digestive surgery; Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery; Orthopedic Surgery and Traumatology; Dermatology Medical Surgical and Venereology; Internal Medicine and Otorhinolaryngology.
2008: Geriatrics; Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation; Neurology; Clinical Neurophysiology; Neurosurgery; Pneumology; and Radiodiagnosis.
2009: Digestive system; Obstetrics and Gynecology; Ophthalmology; and Rheumatology.
2010: Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery.
2013: Medical Oncology.
2022: Legal and Forensic Medicine.
2023: Psychiatry; and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
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