Mais Médicos programme received 33,000 applications from professionals licenced in Brazil

To minimise the impacts to the Brazilian society after the decision by the Cuban government to end the partnership with the country under the Mais Médicos (More Doctors) programme, the Brazilian government took emergency measures to serve the demand and opened 8,517 positions for professionals, Brazilian or foreign, with a professional licence in the country.

As a result, by last Friday (30 November), 33,837 thousand doctors with registration in a Regional Council of Medicine (CRM) had enrolled in the programme. Six days after the announcement by the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO), on 20 November, the government launched the first call for immediate hiring of Brazilian doctors trained in Brazil. The second call was open to Brazilians and foreigners trained abroad with registration in Brazil.

Of the more than 33,000 applicants, 8,376 professionals have already chosen the municipality to start working immediately. That number represents more than 98% of the vacancies. Applications are open until 7 December. At least 2,085 professionals have already initiated activities. Doctors hired have until 14 December to present for work.

Vulnerable municipalities

The positions offered are for work in 2,824 municipalities and 34 Special Indigenous Health Districts (DSEI) in Brazil, which before were occupied by Cuban doctors. By last Friday (30), of 8,376 doctors called to present to local managers, 53.3% had chosen cities with the highest vulnerability. Professionals who have chosen the suburbs of state capitals and metropolitan regions accounted for 17.3%.

Cuban participation

Cuban doctors began arriving in Brazil in November 2013.  In 2016, the Ministry of Health stared reducing the participation of Cuban doctors in the More Doctors programme.  Up to that date, about 11,400 thousand doctors from Cuba were working in the programme. The reduction brought the number to 8,332. In addition to active doctors, 185 doctors that were in their recess period or had ended their participation will also be replaced.

More Doctors Programme 

Participants are free to accept or decline the position offered. In case of need, the Ministry of Health will carry out further calls until it fills the number of positions in the programme.

Professionals receive a training scholarship (currently in the amount of R$ 11,800 per month) and an initial cost allowance between R$ 10,000 and R$ 30,000 to move to the municipality. In addition, all doctors have housing and food expenses paid by the municipalities. 

The More Doctors programme expanded primary care assistance with 18,240 new positions in more than 4,000 municipalities and 34 DSEIs, providing care to roughly 63 million Brazilians. 

Source: BrazilGovNews, with information from the Ministry of Health