The digital transformation of health systems does not depend solely on the adoption of new technologies. It requires a prepared workforce, aligned institutions, and a shared vision of how to integrate innovation in an ethical, effective, and people-centred way. Recognising this, Transform Health Mexico has established a strong strategic presence in the academic sphere, positioning capacity building at the heart of its response to address the challenges presented by digitalization and artificial intelligence in the health sector.
As a coalition dedicated to advancing the digital transformation of Mexico’s health system, Transform Health Mexico has recognized that a key barrier to a more equitable and efficient system is the gap between current clinical practice and traditional models of medical education. In response, engagement with academia has become a core pillar of its work, providing a platform to convene educational institutions, academic bodies, and key health system stakeholders around a common goal.
Education and skills as a foundation for digital health
Transform Health Mexico’s academic approach is grounded in a clear diagnosis: while digital tools are already embedded in everyday healthcare delivery, training and education have not consistently kept pace. According to a survey conducted by FUNSALUD, 45% of physicians in Mexico already provide virtual consultations. At the same time, 47% still rely on paper-based medical records, while others use a wide range of digital tools with varying levels of sophistication. This coexistence of analogue and digital practices reflects an uneven adoption of technology and underscores the urgent need to strengthen digital competencies across the health workforce.
This challenge is further shaped by Mexico’s broader human resources landscape. The country has approximately 346,000 general practitioners and specialists, with a rate of 107.2 certified specialists per 100,000 inhabitants—well below the international benchmark of 230. In parallel, during the 2021–2022 academic cycle, more than 153,000 students were enrolled in medical programs, alongside over 42,000 students in medical specialty training. This emerging generation represents a critical opportunity to update curricula and embed digital, ethical, and technological competencies aligned with the demands of the 21st century.
A collaborative, nationwide academic effort
Against this backdrop, Transform Health Mexico has created open spaces for dialogue between academic institutions and health sector actors on how medical education must evolve in response to rapid digitalization and the growing role of artificial intelligence. Through these efforts, the coalition has convened universities and academic organizations to collectively reflect on how best to prepare future health professionals for a digital health environment.
These exchanges have surfaced a set of shared priorities, including the integration of digital health and AI content into medical curricula, the strengthening of faculty capabilities, and the adoption of more flexible training models that support continuous learning. There is also growing consensus on the importance of aligning educational processes with international standards and fostering stronger collaboration across institutions.
Beyond specific discussions, this work has highlighted the need to evolve traditional models of medical education. Collective reflection increasingly points toward more agile approaches—such as micro-credentials and lifelong learning pathways—as well as the systematic incorporation of competencies related to digital ethics, data governance & management, and the responsible use of artificial intelligence.
Connecting education with real-world health system challenges
Transform Health Mexico has advanced several initiatives aimed at strengthening the country’s digital health transformation. Among them, a few months ago the coalition convened representatives from leading medical education institutions through its Working Group on Digital Health Curricula, a space designed to reflect on and update medical training in response to the challenges posed by digitalization and artificial intelligence.
The working group was supported by UNAM’s Faculty of Medicine, AMFEM (Mexican Association of Faculties and Schools of Medicine), the National Academy of Medicine of Mexico (ANM), FUNSALUD (Mexican Health Foundation), and the Mexican College of Biomedical Engineers, with virtual participation from the Autonomous University of Coahuila, the Autonomous University of Baja California, the Autonomous University of Querétaro, the Autonomous University of Puebla, and the Autonomous University of Yucatán. This broad interinstitutional collaboration brought together diverse perspectives from across the country, reinforcing the importance of collective efforts to strengthen medical education in Mexico amid ongoing digital transformation.
Preparing the next generation of health professionals is an essential component of digital transformation. By linking education, policy dialogue, and system-level reform, Transform Health Mexico is helping ensure that innovation in health is guided not only by technology, but by ethical leadership and a commitment to equity.