Its name was changed by University of Medical Sciences on May 15th, 2009. Its main purpose is the academic development of undergraduate Medicine, Nursing, Stomatologists, and Health and Psychology Technician students.  Through postgraduate courses, diploma courses and  master´s and doctorate courses it is in charge of  improving the development of professors, researchers and other professional from the fields or not. It has nine Postgraduate Studies Centers that group prestigious provincial and national institutions. The Institute has the social duty of generating new knowledge, through research work, which results revert in the assistance and teaching fields and the medical services sphere in the country and in the countries  in ways of developing; where Cuban  health professionals render  their service.