Estado actual de la formación de Doctores en Ciencias de la Salud

Abstract

Objective To identify the favourable factors and the difficulties in the formation of doctors of philosophy (Ph.Ds) in health sciences. Methods An exploratory study was conducted through in-depth interviews to 22 representatives of Scientific Boards of the Network of Cooperative Centers of the National School of Public Health for the formation of Ph.Ds in health sciences in institutions located in La Habana and in the medical universities of Santiago de Cuba y Camaguey. A brainstorming was held with representatives of the member centers of the network. Results The favourable elements are the presence of a significant mass of doctors of philosophy in health sciences associated to the public health, availability of professionals having potentialities to reach the scientific degree, consolidation of the science and technology system in the sector and the implementation of specific actions for the formation of Ph.Ds. The main difficulties were lack of motivation on the part of professionals to attain the scientific degree, as a result of material difficulties, poor support by their institutions, lack of differentiated treatment to the Ph Ds, absence of integration between the undergraduate and postgraduate levels for the formation of these doctors, non-existence of a real scientific culture in the sector, lack of budget and of a well-established definition of the functions of tutors and poor use of the inter-sectorality in the research. Conclusions The National Health Care System has real possibilities for the formation of Ph Ds in health sciences. The difficulties affecting this process range from the poor motivation of professionals to organizational and training problems found in the participating actors. These problems will be solved to a large extent when the formation of Ph Ds nationwide is taken into account in the domestic health policy and duly articulated with the science and technology subsystem.