What is medical education in Cuba like for Cubans?
The full six-year medical education for Cubans studying to become general physicians is free. The first five years are spent in a combination of classroom and clinical learning modules; the sixth year is an internship. After obtaining their MD, with few exceptions, graduates are required to complete a two-year residency program in family medicine. From that point forward, they may apply to a residency program in a second specialty. The number of slots is determined by need, and the residencies are awarded according to performance and academic record. These programs are also free of charge. There are 21 medical schools, four dental schools and four nursing schools in the country for Cuban students (Source:MINSAP, Health Statistics Yearbook, 2005). For the academic year 2006-2007, there were 25,728 Cubans enrolled in medical schools across the country. Additionally, there were 35,483 enrolled in university-level nursing and 4,266 in dentistry school (Source: Vice Ministry for Medical Edu
