Despite the progress, the proportion of doctors is still considered low, with only 24 professionals for every ten thousand inhabitants; total number of nurses also rose 39.2% in the period
The registered a significant growth in the number of doctors after the pandemic, with an increase of 23.6%, according to data from the . In 2023, the total number of doctors in the country reached 502.6 thousand, of which the majority, around 358.9 thousand, are linked to the Unified Health System (). Despite this progress, the proportion of doctors is still considered low, with only 24 professionals for every ten thousand inhabitants. Compared to other countries, Brazil has a lower rate than nations such as Portugal, which has 57.7 doctors per ten thousand inhabitants, Spain with 44.8 and Argentina with 40.8.
This disparity reveals the need for a better distribution of health professionals, since the concentration of doctors is greater in the Southeast and South regions, while the North and Northeast face a serious shortage. To correct this inequality, it is estimated that around 64 thousand doctors would be needed to be redistributed to adequately serve the population in the neediest areas. This redistribution is essential to ensure that all Brazilians have access to quality medical care, regardless of their geographic location.
In addition to the increase in the number of doctors, Brazil also saw an increase in the number of nurses. The total number of nurses rose from 260.9 thousand in 2019 to 363.1 thousand in 2023, representing an increase of 39.2%. Nursing technicians also saw significant growth, going from 750.5 thousand to 952.6 thousand, which is equivalent to an increase of 26.9%.
*Report produced with the help of AI
Published by Matheus Oliveira
