Mexico has become the latest country to seek staff for its public hospitals and clinics from beyond its borders.
With more than 700 medical specialist position vacant in 15 States, Director of the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS), Zoé Robledo announced a campaign to recruit 749 doctors to work in 54 public hospitals, some in remote areas of the country.
While Mexican doctors can also apply for the jobs, Mr Robledo (pictured) said the real target of the campaign was “specialists from other parts of the world who are interested in coming to Mexico to work for a period of one year”.
Mr Robledo said the public health system could not find enough specialists because in the past 30 years, 80 per cent of medical school candidates had been rejected.
In addition to having relevant medical qualifications, doctors must be fluent in Spanish and are required to present a letter from their most recent employer.
“Applications will be considered by a committee of experts and the Government will arrange the appropriate visas for successful candidates,” Mr Robledo said.
Earlier, Minister for Health, Jorge Alcocer said Mexican doctors were unwilling to work in remote areas and in the past the Government had decided to hire Cubans.
In addition to announcing the international recruitment campaign for specialists, Mr Robledo said the Government was also looking to hire 1,750 general practitioners and 550 specialist nurses.
Mexico City, 14 October 2022
