BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Reflecting deep disillusionment within Argentina’s medical community, only 52.8% of physicians said they would choose to study medicine again if given the chance. Nearly 3 in 10 (29.3%) rejected the idea outright, while 1 in 6 (17.9%) said they were unsure.

These findings come from a nationwide survey conducted by the Forum of Medical Societies, a coalition of 23 national specialty associations that advocate for Argentina’s physicians and healthcare system. The results were presented during the session Medicine in Danger at the 51st Argentine Congress of Cardiology, held from October 15 to 17.

The survey, completed by 2920 physicians (60.9% women) from 37 specialties across all regions of Argentina, also revealed worrying levels of physician burnout. Nearly two-thirds (64.5%) reported suffering from burnout, defined as physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion caused by chronic, unrelieved stress.

The highest prevalence was seen among medical residents (over 80%), followed by specialists in intensive care, pediatrics, general surgery, neurology, and internal medicine. Burnout rates declined with age: 78.7% among physicians aged 25-34 years, 68.0% among those aged 45-54 years, and only 39.0% among those aged 65-74 years.

“Burnout is a warning signal that something is happening within the structure of medicine — whether in clinical practice, the health system, or in how all these factors interact,” said Gabriel Persi, vice president of the Argentine Neurological Society and one of the study’s authors.

Eroding Salaries and Waning Motivation

7 in 10 physicians said their purchasing power had declined over the past 5 years, and the same proportion believed the health system had deteriorated. Nearly half admitted to considering emigration due to poor working conditions.

“Many doctors hold three or four paid jobs — not because they enjoy working in multiple settings, but because they need to maintain a basic standard of living,” Persi explained.

Pablo Stutzbach, president of the Argentine Society of Cardiology and coordinator of the session, told Medscape’s Spanish edition, “Scientific societies have always prioritized education, research, and continuous professional development to ensure doctors can offer the best care. But those goals lose meaning when burnout levels are this high and when, in some groups, more than 50% of physicians want to emigrate.”

He added that balancing work and personal life has become a global concern across medical organizations. “We’re already facing a human-resource crisis,” he said. “In many parts of Argentina, it’s nearly impossible to find on-call doctors, pediatricians, general practitioners, or specialists in intensive care and general surgery. If we don’t change course soon, the situation will only get worse — and quickly.”

A System That Discourages

Panelists at the session analyzed the survey results and offered their perspectives. Martin Donato, MD, PhD, director of the Institute of Cardiovascular Pathophysiology at the University of Buenos Aires, noted that 90% of medical graduates report they would study medicine again, according to the university surveys. However, he said, the new findings suggest that half of practicing doctors later regret their choice, likely because the healthcare system “quickly erodes” the idealism many had when they entered the profession.

“Medicine is in danger because doctors are in danger,” said Martín Oliva, MD, head of the Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery Service at JJ de Urquiza Hospital, Entre Ríos, Argentina. “We must bring together those who teach, those who manage, and those who practice medicine to find a unified path forward.” He emphasized the need to invest in human capital rather than focusing solely on infrastructure.

Hospital administrators shared similar concerns. Hugo Magonza, director general of the CEMIC University Hospital (Centro de Educación Médica e Investigaciones Clínicas Norberto Quirno) in Buenos Aires and president of the Argentine Health Union, called it “painful” that so many doctors feel they chose the wrong profession. “Our mission is to help them thrive professionally,” he said. “Yet compensation is far from adequate for the effort expected, and current laws and regulations do not protect healthcare professionals as they should.”

Mario Kohan, health minister of the Argentine province of La Pampa, added that more than half of provincial health expenditures go toward medications and supplies, leaving only about a quarter for physician fees. He also criticized Argentina’s medical education system for being too long and poorly integrated between undergraduate and postgraduate levels. “Graduates often lack the necessary competencies,” he said. “If they don’t pursue a residency, they enter the workforce earning the same as well-trained colleagues.”

Daniel Ferrante, cardiologist and deputy health minister of Buenos Aires City, said that in his 31 years of practice, he has seen little meaningful reform of the healthcare system. “Economic, quality, access, and workforce crises cannot be solved by piecemeal measures that preserve the status quo,” he warned. “Marginal changes only yield marginal improvements.”

Former national health minister Mario Russo agreed, describing the situation as a structural problem within the health system. “Public hospitals care for about 30% of patients who have private insurance but do not charge for those services,” he said. “We need to transcend sectoral interests, break out of our silos, and strengthen public-private collaboration. Doctors cannot continue to be the financiers of the system.”

Residency in Crisis

The attitudes and choices of younger physicians in residency programs paint an equally concerning picture. A national survey of 250 cardiology residents, presented by Francisco Olivares Prado, president of the Argentine Council of Cardiology Residents, found that 27% work more than 80 hours per week, 25% would not choose residency again, and 83% have considered working abroad.

Donato noted that younger generations now prioritize quality of life and mental health, choosing specialties with fewer on-call demands and less pressure. Pablo Sonzini Astudillo, president of the Argentine Association of Surgery, said interest in surgical residencies has declined sharply, with high dropout rates and many graduates later switching to more lucrative surgical subspecialties.

Alejandro Risso Vázquez, former board member of the Argentine Society of Intensive Care, described the staffing situation in intensive care as “critical.” Coverage of specialist positions has fallen by half, and there is “deep uncertainty about generational renewal” as specialists over age 50 approach retirement.

The duration of residencies was also a topic of debate. Omar Gutiérrez, infectious disease specialist and provincial legislator from the province of Jujuy, said, “We are all used to the idea that residencies must last 4 years, but in reality, residents complete their learning curve by the third year. The fourth year is often spent covering service gaps.”

According to Esteban Langlois, medical director of Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, the health system must see residency training as an investment rather than cheap labor. He shared a successful initiative at his institution that eliminated 24-hour shifts, replacing them with rotating day or night schedules lasting 2-3 weeks. “This maintains training hours while protecting both residents and patients from fatigue and interruptions in care,” he said. “When a doctor works 24 hours straight, their performance in the final hours is clearly not the same as in the first.”

All participants declared having no relevant financial conflicts of interest. 

This story was translated from Medscape’s Portuguese edition.