Universidad de la Salud opens in Tabasco with first medical cohort

The Universidad de la Salud in Tabasco is launching its first generation of medical students, with an initial cohort of 160 students enrolled in a General Medicine program. The initiative is part of a federal and state strategy to increase the number of medical professionals in southeastern Mexico, specifically targeting the reduction of physician shortages in rural areas of Tabasco, Chiapas, and Campeche.

The program features a six-year curriculum including one year of social service, focusing on primary care, community health, and prevention. Classes will begin in September at a provisional site in Villahermosa, utilizing rehabilitated facilities from the state Secretariat of Health while a permanent campus is constructed. The initial investment of 45 million pesos covers equipment, simulators, and library resources.

Future expansions are planned, including the opening of Nursing and Obstetrics programs in 2027, followed by Dentistry and Physiotherapy in 2028. The university aims to support the federal goal of achieving 2.5 physicians per 1,000 inhabitants.