Contribution of Cuban teaching-assistance cooperation to the health of East Timor.2004-2019

Torres N.M.; Medrano T.R. · Revista Infodir (2024)

Resumen

Introduction:As for Cuba, the training of human resources constitutes a priority to guarantee universal health coverage and cooperation with other countries. There are 13 medical universities and Cuban professors contribute to the training of health professionals and technicians in other countries. The shortage of health workers in Timor-Leste is an impediment to the achievement of Universal Health Coverage. How has Cuban medical assistance and teaching cooperation contributed to improving the health situation in East Timor? Objective:The general objective is to analyze the contribution made by Cuba to improve the health status of East Timor, with emphasis on the training of human resources, in the period 2004-2019 and in particular, describe the evolution of the health situation and human resources in East Timor health system. Methods:A descriptive and retrospective study was carried out in the period from 2004 to 2019. For data collection, a documentary review and in-depth interviews with experts with open questions were used. Results:As a result, it is observed that in 2019, the country went from having less than 30 doctors to 1,068 general practitioners, out of which, 95.3% were trained by Cuban professors in these 15 years at ELAM and the Faculty of Medicine of East Timor. Conclusions:The main health indicators were improved, allowing East Timor to go from being the country with the worst indicators in the region to one of the best.