Primary Health Care in Brazil and the Mais Médicos (More Doctors) Program: an analysis of production indicators

This study analyzes the number of medical appointments and referrals performed in primary health care in Brazil focusing on the Mais Médicos Program (More Doctors Program). It is a cross-sectional study on the work of physicians included, or not, to the Mais Médicos Program in 2014. Based on validation protocols, a unified database was created from two health information system databases - SIAB and ESUS. Absolute indicators were defined: the total of medical appointments per month; medical referrals and community health education activities. In addition, other indicators were considered, such as weekly rates and productivity of appointments, in line with the profile of Brazilian municipalities. The mean of all appointments was 285 per month corresponding to an average of 14.4 appointments/day. In the poorest municipalities, the figures for the Mais Médicos Program physicians were higher than national rates. The educational activities provided by primary care teams that included a Mais Médicos Program professional were higher in Brazilian capital cities. The Mais Médicos Program achieved one of its main goals, which was to increase health access for vulnerable populations and to contribute towards the consolidation of primary health care in Brazil.