Academic capitalism in health sciences: Tensions between productivity and quality

Estrada-Araoz E.G.; Chura-Quispe G. · Gaceta Medica de Caracas (2026)

Resumen

Academic capitalism has profoundly reshaped higher education, particularly in the health sciences, where publications and citations have become the primary measure of academic performance. This emphasis on bibliometric indicators introduces bias, favors quantity over quality, and encourages questionable practices, such as splitting results across multiple papers, submitting to journals with lax standards, and granting honorary authorship. In the health sector, these pressures undermine clinical teaching, widen the gap between education and research, and contribute to curricula that drift away from real problems faced by health systems. The expectation to sustain high productivity also increases workload and contributes to professional burnout. Although scientific output in the region has grown considerably, this rise does not guarantee social relevance or clinical impact. For these reasons, there is a need to reconsider how academic work is evaluated, to broaden the metrics used, and to strengthen the social accountability of institutions that train future health professionals.

Instituciones: Universidad Nacional Amazónica de Madre de Dios; Escuela de Posgrado Newman