Applications to study medicine at Valencian public universities have increased by almost 30% in the year of the pandemic. In the university prescription of the course 2019-2020 were 3,576 and this exercise, after the Tests of Access to the University (PAU) of June, in full phase of deconfonamiento, the demand has increased until 5.079. In addition, according to data from the Ministry of Universities, the highest cut-off mark for this race in the Community has gone from 13.01 in June 2019 at the University of Valencia to 13.41 in just one year after.
What is the reason for this increase? The answers to this question are diverse. Although Medicine is one of the most traditionally listed university degrees, the sharp increase in demand in this time frame responds, according to Jesús Andicoberry, coordinator of the Valencian Community of the State Council of Medical Students (CEEM), to two main factors: “the romanticization of the profession and the humanitarian reason of being of the Medicine, that resides to help the others”. The student representative points out that, in addition, one of the pros for future college students to choose Medicine is “the extensive six-year training, which is unusual in other careers after the implementation of the Bologna Plan, which shortened training in four years ».
Not everything is lights
However, not everything is lights in the race of medical personnel. According to Andicoberry, the pandemic has highlighted “the great role of doctors in all areas”, but has also brought to light the poor working conditions and “continuous exhaustion” to which professionals are exposed, especially in an exceptional situation. .
Enrique Cuñat, president of the MIR Spain association and third-year resident doctor in the Endocrinology department of the Doctor Peset Hospital in Valencia, agrees with him. “Medicine calls for its low unemployment rates, it is a profession highly valued socially but does not stand out for good working conditions,” he says. Cuñat adds that the doctor suffers from a “very high temporary employment rate”, a “very high” responsibility which is not accompanied by an “agreement” remuneration.
Although he says that it is difficult to compare professions with each other, he says that if you look at the trade in Spain and in other countries: “We came out very badly” because our country, he says, “is one of the worst conditions And, therefore, “those who can go away.”
Also noteworthy is the idealization of the medical profession. “When you finish high school you think things won’t go wrong for you. You idealize your future and you imagine it with job and economic security ”.