Senator Kusanovic proposes increasing medical school spots in Chile

Senator Alejandro Kusanovic has called on the Chilean Ministries of Health and Education to address the shortage of doctors in extreme regions of the country. During joint Senate commission sessions held in the Arica y Parinacota Region, Kusanovic proposed increasing medical school enrollment in regional universities and streamlining the revalidation process for foreign medical degrees.

Highlighting the scarcity of training opportunities, the senator noted that the University of Magallanes, the only institution in its region offering medical degrees, receives over 1,000 applicants annually for only 50 available spots. Kusanovic warned that the lack of general practitioners directly hinders the ability to train medical specialists.

Additional proposals include the creation of medical and health research centers in Magallanes and Arica, as well as the decentralization of the EUNACOM exam and other medical certifications. This would allow professionals to complete evaluations and specialty certifications in their own regions rather than traveling to Santiago.