Do Economic Crises Affect Medical Education? A Narrative Review

Objectives: This review aims to investigate the impact of economic sanctions, as a form of economic crisis, on medical education. Methods: This research is a review of studies published between 1995 and 2023. A search was conducted in electronic sources, databases, and information repositories. The initial search yielded 313 articles. In the first screening, which involved examining the titles, 173 unrelated articles were removed, leaving 158 articles for the abstract screening stage. During this stage, 95 unrelated articles were excluded, and after accessing and reviewing the full text of the remaining 63 articles, 35 were deemed eligible for review. Results: Economic sanctions are defined as restrictions imposed by one country on the international trade and investment of another to force a policy change. Academic and research systems are often overlooked areas that are severely impacted by sanctions. In Sudan, for example, sanctions led foreign organizations to refrain from cooperating with academics in the country, particularly regarding the publication of articles. Importantly, the negative effects of economic sanctions on education cannot be easily remedied, even long after the sanctions are lifted. Conclusions: The effects of sanctions on education and health have been proven in many countries, including Sudan, Haiti, Zimbabwe, and Iraq. There is an urgent need to specifically focus on the consequences of sanctions on medical education above all other aspects.