Government wants more Brazilians in More Doctors program

The government aims to increase the participation of Brazilian doctors in the More Doctors program and to gradually replace Cuban doctors who have been working for three years in the country, in areas where there are not enough professionals.

The forecast is that between December 2016 and April 2017 about 2,000 jobs will be announced. And in three years, they aim to replace 4,000 Cubans doctors for Brazilian professionals interested in the jobs.

Health Minister Ricardo Barros reported today (Sep. 20) that the cooperation agreement signed with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), supporting the work of Cuban doctors in the country, was renewed for more three years.

"In fact, the More Doctors program received great approval, the quality of the work of Cuban nationals is always recognized. The creation of new medical schools will make more professionals to meet the Brazilian market's demand that will be posted in notices. We need Brazilian professionals to be really willing to occupy the offices," said Barros. He explained that while this does not happen, the agreement with PAHO and Cuba will continue coping with the demand.

Currently, the More Doctors program has 18,240 posts for primary care services in 4,058 municipalities and 34 indigenous districts. Among doctors doing these jobs, 11,429 are Cuban cooperators (62.6%), 5,274 are Brazilian doctors trained in Brazil (29%) and 1,537 foreigners and Brazilians trained abroad (8.4%). The program reaches 72.8% of Brazilian municipalities and benefits 63 million people.

The law extending the program for three years was signed by President Michel Temer on September 12. It waives the requirement from foreign exchange students and Brazilian doctors trained abroad participating in the More Doctors program  to validate their medical degrees to work in the country.

Adjustments

Barros also announced that the funds paid for the participants will be adjusted in 9%. The payment, which was $3,248 per doctors, will increase to $3,540 in January 2017. Because of the extension of the program, the amount will also be adjusted for inflation. Doctors working in indigenous areas also had their housing assistance and food benefits increased, which is $845.00 since August.

Both the payment and the assistance for doctors working in indigenous areas are paid by the Ministry of Health. According to Barros, the budget impact of the program is $828.75 million in 2016. In 2017, it will be $920 million.

Created in 2013, the More Doctors program has improved primary care services by taking doctors to areas where there are not enough professionals. In addition to providing urgent medical care, the program aims to train doctors and specialists. By 2017, 11,500 new undergraduate places in medicine schools shall be created, in addition to 12,400 medical residency positions.

Translated by Amarílis Anchieta