Medical residents in Mexico face intense training challenges

Medical residents in Mexico face significant personal and professional challenges as they pursue specialized training. In Morelos, residents at the Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS) report that the process requires intense discipline, technical training, research, and teaching responsibilities, often forcing them to live within the hospital for years.

Professionals highlighted the emotional toll of the work, particularly in fields like Pediatrics, where dealing with patient loss is a major difficulty. The demanding routines involve long shifts and continuous emergencies that absorb personal, family, and social lives.

Historically, medical training has included dedicated areas for residents to sleep and eat, though these facilities have evolved or become more restricted over time. Despite improvements in some teaching towers, the increasing number of residents continues to strain available resources and living conditions within training hospitals.