The whole issue has to do with statistics and population performances.Let's say there are some basic questions.For example should only intelligent people become doctors?And the second should a doctor be intelligent?
So what happens in reality.Let's say US medical schools lower the standards to accept minorities through affirmative action.On the other hand test difficulty has to be adjusted according to the level of of US graduates.As a result USMLE tests are standardized in a level that allows people with IQ over 110 to pass them.Probably lots of US graduates from foreign schools are below this level so they have a 45% failure while US graduates have a 7% failure since the test difficulty is standardized according to their performance.(so that 93% pass).
Anyway it is a complicated issue with lots of social pressure and in case of EU students studying in Poland,CR,Hungary it is considered a political issue and a social problem.It is sth like a hot potato because many of the students studying in these countries are well connected and have parents already in the proffession so they can doubt about every admission process.(US students can doubt only indirectly because the system of admissions for them is very standardized and balanced).
the first being I simply cannot afford medical school in the United States
You could take student loans for that.I am sure you tried to enter the US medical school since opportunities after finishing it are way better.
About the real value of medical school you just have to see the university rankings.US medical schools are among the first 50 worldwide while polish ones must be somehere between 2000th-3000th position.It is normal though it has also to do with the stricter rules of admission for US schools.
Again I say that all this is common sense which will never be accepted by doctors.Also physicians do not care about justice they are against it since they regard it sth against real life procedures.