"Mais medicos": a Brazilian program in an international perspective/Mais medicos: um programa Brasileiro em uma perspectiva internacional/Más médicos: un programa Brasileño en una perspectiva internacional

The shortage of health professionals in remote and vulnerable areas is an important obstacle for universal access to health in several countries. This paper examines the policies of provision of health professionals in Australia, in the United States of America, and in Brazil. In spite of the partial success of previous initiatives, it was only with the "Mais Medicos" ("More Physicians") Program that the provision of physicians in vulnerable areas had the magnitude and the response in adequate time to respond to the demands of the Brazilian municipalities. Quantitative and qualitative changes in the training of physicians are in course and they seek to assure not only universality, but also integrality and sustainability in the Brazilian National Health System (Sistema Unico de Saude--SUS). The success of these initiatives will depend on the continuity of the intefederative articulation, of State regulation policies, as well as of the continuous monitoring and improvement of the program.