Service users' perceptions of the Mais Médicos (More Doctors) Program in the Municipality of Mossoró, Brazil.

Tiago Rodrigues Bento Da Silva,Andrea Taborda Ribas Da Cunha,Jennifer Do Vale E Silva,Andrezza Graziella Veríssimo Pontes

doi:10.1590/1413-81232015219.18022016

Tiago Rodrigues Bento Da Silva, Andrea Taborda Ribas Da Cunha + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/1413-81232015219.18022016

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Abstract

The Mais Médicos (More Doctors) Program (MMP), which was launched in 2013, sought to provide doctors to work in primary health care in priority areas within the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS). This article analyzes the perception of MMP service users through the results of a qualitative study that consisted of interviews with service users of the Family Health Strategy (ESF) in which doctors from the MMP worked. The service users who were interviewed had a positive view of the MMP because it had expanded access to health care, although there still remained organizational and technical problems that limited the use of services. The performance of foreign doctors was well viewed, with an emphasis on a humanized relationship between doctor and service user, which was characterized by listening, attention and dialogue. In terms of communication with these professionals, some service users referred to language as being a barrier, which was ameliorated by the use of communication strategies within the ESF. The MMP offered a quick and satisfactory resolution to the historical problem of difficulty of access to doctors in Brazil. However, the effectiveness of the Brazilian health system requires that weaknesses are overcome, such as access to specialized services, organizational problems and the implementation of service production models that are centered on illness.

Highlights

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the shortage of health professionals is a global problem that undermines the establishment of national health systems; this problem is worse in regions with higher incidence of diseases[1]
The analysis culminated in the establishment of the following three categories, from which the presentation of the results was structured: the views of service users about the Mais Médicos para o Brasil Program; access to primary health care: changes and continuities, and the perceptions of services users regarding the work of the foreign doctors
The profiles of the service users who expressed their views about the Mais Médicos para o Brasil Program were based on the criteria of gender, education and age

Summary

Introduction

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the shortage of health professionals is a global problem that undermines the establishment of national health systems; this problem is worse in regions with higher incidence of diseases[1]. It created new parameters for Brazilian medical training and launched the Projeto Mais Médicos para o Brasil (More Doctors for Brazil Program), which was intended to allow the emergency provision of doctors to work in primary health care in priority areas of the SUS11.

Results

Conclusion