Globalization, equity, and medical education: An unresolved tension in the 21st century – Editorial.

Abstract

This editorial aims to analyze the dual nature of globalization as a force shaping health systems and medical education globally, identifying its key challenges, opportunities, and institutional repercussions. It presents a critical, analytical synthesis of contemporary literature on the socio-educational and health-related impacts of global interdependence, with a particular focus on the Latin American context.

Globalization acts as a catalyst for unprecedented scientific advances, facilitating multicenter research, open access to evidence, and the internationalization of curricula. However, it coexists with profound structural asymmetries. In low- and middle-income countries, this phenomenon amplifies pre-existing inequalities through the technological gap, academic dependency, and "brain drain." Furthermore, the uncritical adoption of global standards creates tensions by eroding local relevance in the face of specific epidemiological realities. Within the university setting, the influence of neoliberal models and the commodification of higher education have prioritized productivity indicators and market competitiveness, displacing the ethical, humanistic, and social commitment dimensions essential to the doctor-patient relationship. Latin America emerges as a paradigmatic setting for these tensions due to its fragmented health systems and chronic funding deficits.

In conclusion, globalization is not a neutral process but a mechanism that redefines power relations and health autonomy. The future of medical education, shaped by artificial intelligence and personalized medicine, demands a critical and contextualized integration. The challenge of the 21st century lies in balancing technological innovation and international cooperation with equitable, sustainable training and a strong sense of social responsibility that upholds the right to health.