Evaluation of physician density in Northeastern Brazil: a time series from 2013 to 2023

Abstract

Introduction: Physician density in Brazil is essential for equity in the healthcare system, with the greatest challenges located in the North and Northeast regions. Since physician shortages are a marker of social inequality that primarily affects areas of extreme poverty, the Mais Médicos (More Doctors) Program was created in 2013—at a time when the reality was 1.8 physicians per 1,000 inhabitants—to improve the distribution of these professionals, as well as to expand education and upgrade infrastructure. This study evaluates the impact of this program from 2013 to 2023 on physician density and equity in healthcare access. Objectives: To analyze the temporal evolution of overall physician density and Primary Health Care (PHC) physician density in Northeastern Brazil between 2013 and 2023, comparing Federative Units and their capital cities to evaluate regional disparities and the impact of public policies for professional provision and interiorization resulting from the Mais Médicos Program. Methodology: This is an observational, longitudinal, time-series study evaluating physician density in Northeastern Brazil from 2013 to 2023, comparing Federative Units and their capital cities to understand the impact of the Mais Médicos Program. Data were collected from secondary sources, such as DATASUS and IBGE, and categorized by total physicians and family physicians. Tables were created in Excel to calculate physician densities. Conclusion: The study demonstrates that public policies such as the Mais Médicos Program boosted the growth of physician density in the Northeast between 2013 and 2023. However, this region still faces structural challenges in attracting and retaining physicians, remaining below the national average of 2.63 per 1,000 inhabitants. The persistence of these challenges, combined with internal disparities among capital cities, reinforces the urgency of provision policies focused on equity and the strengthening of Primary Health Care.