Announced before the first 100 days of the government, the More Doctors program could add 15 more professionals by the end of the year.

247 - Revamped and expanded, the new Mais Médicos program, announced in March, has already opened 6.252 positions for healthcare professionals. These positions are primarily located in areas that have been left out of the federal government program since it began to be gradually phased out in 2017. edict Applications for filling vacancies are open (Simply click on the highlighted link for the word "notice" to find out how to apply for one of the positions.).

Several new features were incorporated into the Mais Médicos program in 2023, when compared to the program that was in effect in the country from 2013 onwards. Perhaps the most significant of these, benefiting healthcare professionals who join the program, was the institution of a benefit payment of up to R$ 120 for doctors who remain for four years in areas of social vulnerability. This incentive can be further increased if the healthcare professional has used FIES (Student Financing for Higher Education) during their academic training.

If you have been a beneficiary of FIES (Student Financing Fund) and have provided uninterrupted service for four years in areas of high social vulnerability, the doctor participating in the Mais Médicos (More Doctors) program may be able to reduce up to 80% of the Financing debt with the guarantee of the Federal Government. The percentage of this reduction is reduced as the vulnerability of the area served decreases, and can reach a minimum of 40% if the service relationship is maintained for four consecutive years.

The initial stipend for healthcare professionals in the Mais Médicos program is R$ 12,8 per month, in addition to housing allowance. In hard-to-reach and highly vulnerable areas, municipal managers (mayors) must ensure the transportation and safety of doctors to their work areas – as well as access to potable water, essential for survival and clinical treatments. The professionals' contract will be for four years (previously two years) and can be extended for another four years, during which time the doctor can pursue specialization and a master's degree.

Brazilians who completed their medical training abroad will receive a 50% discount on the fee for the diploma revalidation exam (Revalida), which until last year was R$ 410. A survey by the Ministry of Health estimated that up to 20% of those who opted for the Mais Médicos program in its previous format left the program in search of further professional training, hence the creation of the incentive grant for those seeking this qualification.

Another challenge, according to the Federal Government, is expanding the training of family and community doctors – those who are directed to provide care in basic health units (UBSs). To address this shortage, residency positions will be offered to medical residents who benefited from FIES (Student Financing Fund) to complete their residency program in areas lacking professionals. Furthermore, to support the continued participation of female doctors in the program, a supplementary income will be provided to their INSS (National Social Security Institute) benefits so that they receive the same stipend amount (R$ 12,8) during their maternity leave. For program participants who become fathers, a 20-day leave with maintenance of the stipend amount is guaranteed.

By the end of 2023, the Ministry of Health plans to open 15 positions in the Mais Médicos program. The goal, therefore, is to have more than 28 doctors working in the country to provide services to over 96 million Brazilians. To meet this challenge, the investment in 2023 will be R$ 712 million.