In a truly surreal statement, the people that administer the only exam that allows doctors to apply for residencies, announced that of the 5,600 who took the test, only 800 passed with a score of 65 or above. That is 14% of the total. Last year, before the pandemic, only 20% passed.
As usual, there were rumors of exams being sold two days before the test date, but it hardly matters since the Ministry of Public Health officials say that this year the exam is not really required to opt for the different medical specialties (residencies) in public hospitals around the country.
In fact, there are 1,078 openings for these positions. And people in the Ministry of Public Health are pushing for everyone to apply, since the Ministry wants more doctors to specialize here. For now, the exam that requires months of study and preparation to perform well is basically meaningless. A pass does not ensure a position at any of the residencies, either.
Franklin Sasso Matos, coordinator of medical residences of the state UASD university said that this year the government will be giving more importance to the courses taken in the university, academic awards and the student grades than to the test grade.
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Diario Libre
25 April 2021