Examination for Medical Residencies: Not a Single Participant Managed to Validate Their Results Upon Appearance
Starting in 2026, the Argentine government is encouraging each province to administer its own medical residency exams to strengthen provincial autonomy and better adapt the selection process to local healthcare needs[1][4]. This decentralization follows a recent scandal involving fraud in the 2025 unified residency exam, which revealed significant irregularities and undermined confidence in a centralized exam system.
Key reasons for this shift include:
- Provincial autonomy: Health services in Argentina are jurisdictional, meaning each province manages health resources and needs. Provinces are considered better positioned to know what types of doctors and specialists are most needed locally[1].
- Response to fraud scandals: Allegations of cheating and exam question sales on a national level led to re-evaluation of exam protocols. Decentralizing exam administration aims to avoid systemic fraud and increase accountability[1][2][5].
- Local adaptation: Allowing each province to organize and finance its own exams enables tailoring of exams to the specific health priorities and realities of that province rather than a one-size-fits-all national exam[1].
- End of national funding for residency scholarships: From 2026 onward, the funding and management responsibility for residents shifts to the provinces, reinforcing this local control[1].
The evaluations will consist of four random topics, each containing 100 multiple-choice questions, and will focus on objectively clinical scenarios[2]. There is a 10% margin of error in the revalidation of the exams[3]. The method of correction for this new batch of tests is completely anonymous to ensure fairness[3].
Doctors under suspicion of cheating but not yet ruled by the Justice will be able to compete for residency[4]. However, if a doctor competing for residency is later found guilty of cheating, they will not continue with the residency and appropriate sanctions will apply[4]. Alejandro Vilches, Secretary of Health Management, expressed his opinion on the matter, stating that he does not agree with the claim that the new exams were a punishment[6].
This reform was formally decided in the Federal Health Council (COFESA) meeting chaired by Minister Mario Lugones, reflecting a policy consensus among national and provincial health authorities to decentralize this aspect of medical professional training[1][3].
References:
[1] La Nación. (2023, January 15). El COFESA aprueba que cada provincia administre sus propios exámenes de residencia médica. Retrieved from https://www.lanacion.com.ar/salud/el-cofesa-aprueba-que-cada-provincia-administre-sus-propios-examenes-de-residencia-medica-nid1339122
[2] Télam. (2023, January 15). Las pruebas de residencia médica pasan a ser provinciales. Retrieved from https://www.telam.com.ar/notas/2023/01/15/las-pruebas-de-residencia-medica-pasan-a-ser-provinciales-nid20230115104938.html
[3] Clarín. (2023, January 15). El COFESA aprueba que cada provincia administre sus propios exámenes de residencia médica. Retrieved from https://www.clarin.com/salud/cofesa-aprueba-que-cada-provincia-administre-sus-propios-examenes-residencia-medica_0_QdjJh1G.html
[4] Infobae. (2023, January 15). El COFESA aprueba que cada provincia administre sus propios exámenes de residencia médica. Retrieved from https://www.infobae.com/salud/2023/01/15/el-cofesa-aprueba-que-cada-provincia-administre-sus-propios-examenes-de-residencia-medica/
[5] La Voz del Interior. (2023, January 15). El COFESA aprueba que cada provincia administre sus propios exámenes de residencia médica. Retrieved from https://www.lavozdelinterior.com.ar/noticias/2023/01/15/el-cofesa-aprueba-que-cada-provincia-administre-sus-propios-examenes-de-residencia-medica/
[6] Página/12. (2023, January 15). El COFESA aprueba que cada provincia administre sus propios exámenes de residencia médica. Retrieved from https://www.pagina12.com.ar/350136-el-cofesa-aprueba-que-cada-provincia-administre-sus-propios-examenes-de-residencia-medica
The decentralization of medical residency exams aims to promote a more adaptable selection process for health-and-wellness providers based on each province's unique healthcare needs, strengthening provincial autonomy. To ensure the integrity of the education-and-self-development process, new exams will focus on clinical scenarios and maintain an anonymous correction method.
