The Mais Médicos program was sanctioned by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (Portugal) this Friday (14). According to the federal government, the program provides for the creation of 15,000 new jobs for professionals in 2023.

The new law also provides for some specific changes for Lula’s previous administration. Now there will be a re-issuance of doctors’ diplomas for exchange and encouragement for help in hard-to-reach cities.

Brazil’s “More Doctors” program is back on track – Photo: Freepik/Disclosure/ND

The relaunch of the program and the issuance of the first public notice with 5,968 vacancies, one thousand vacancies for Legal Amazon, broke a record with more than 34,000 registered doctors, the highest number since the program’s inception in 2013.

At the moment, according to the first public announcement, 3,620 specialists have been selected, who are already working in all regions of the country.

exchange students

Doctors who are exchange students will now have a new code of conduct. Under the law adopted for the Mais Médicos program, non-validated professionals will be able to attend the program for up to four years, but they will have to undergo periodic tests.

In addition to exams, exchange students will only be able to renew their participation in Mais Médicos upon presentation of a validated diploma.

Another change will affect the remuneration of doctors. Now the salary will be paid directly, without intermediaries. Previously, the Ministry of Health transferred the amounts to Opas (Pan American Health Organization), which transferred them to the Cuban government and paid for exchange students.

This type of transfer caused controversy in the country, forcing the government to change the rules.

Rewards for professionals

The relaunch of Mais Médicos will bring with it incentive strategies for professionals and learning opportunities while working in the program. The participant will be able to obtain a specialization and a master’s degree in up to four years.

Professionals will also receive benefits in proportion to the monthly stipend to work in the periphery and in regions with greater vulnerability.

In order to support the succession of female doctors, compensation will also be paid to achieve the same stipend amount during six months of maternity leave, supplementing INSS assistance. Program members who become parents will be guaranteed 20 days of parental leave.

Mais Médicos also wants to attract specialists trained with the support of the federal government. Those who benefit from FIES (higher education student funding) who participate in the program can receive incentives ranging from 238,000 to 475,000 reais, depending on the vulnerability of the municipality and persistence in the program for 48 months.

telemedicine

Changes also include allowing the use of telemedicine in the program when needed, and prioritizing the care of indigenous, quilombola, and coastal areas.

The Department of Health has also opened a public notice of action in Indigenous Health Districts. There are 59 vacancies for specialists wishing to work in the territories of indigenous peoples. The goal is to replace vacancies that were not filled by the previous administration and guarantee access to healthcare for this population, which is a priority for the federal government.

Doctors selected by the first public notice of activity by region:

Midwest, 274 physicians;

North-East – 943 doctors;

North – 722 doctors;

South-East – 1056 doctors;

South – 625 doctors.