[Trends in the graduation of Brazilian physicians]

Physicians numerical increment in Brazil presented critical variations in recent years. So, annual means of graduated physicians were: 1972-1976, 7,082; 1977-1981, 8,304; 1982-1986, 7,542; 1987-1991, 7,058. In spite of this tendency to reduction, physicians per 10,000 inhabitants rate increased in the last 20 years: 5.96 in 1972, 4.59 in 1982 and 13.87 in 1992. Percentual increment of physicians per year represents 3.5% of the total number of active professionals/against less than 2% in the total population increase in Brazil. Thus that rate has a clear tendency to increase in the next years.