Education, Equity and Transplant Systems: A National Cross-Sectional Study of Health Workforce Competencies Across Argentine Medical Schools

Solid organ transplantation has been established as the treatment of choice for patients with end-stage chronic diseases. Its development depends on scientific and technological advances accompanied by efficient healthcare management. Despite the progress achieved, inequalities in access to transplantation remain a global concern. These disparities are closely associated not only with structural and socioeconomic factors but also with the training of healthcare professionals to develop safe and high-quality transplantation programs. Given the importance of education in strengthening donation and transplantation programs, this study was conducted through the Association of Medical Schools of the Argentine Republic (AFACIMERA) to assess the teaching of organ donation and transplantation in medical degree programs and to analyze the articulation of universities with health policies in this field. The results demonstrated considerable heterogeneity in both the approach and depth with which donation and transplantation are addressed. In general, the topic receives limited teaching hours, with variable approaches (ethical-legal, humanistic, and scientific) and without structured inclusion in the medical curriculum. The main barriers identified were structural, including an insufficient number of specialized faculty members, low curricular priority, and weak articulation with the healthcare system. These findings represent an opportunity to design competency-based curricula and promote continuing professional development to address these shortcomings. In summary, aligning educational pathways, standardizing competencies, and integrating education focused on equity are essential strategies for improving equitable access to transplantation.