Brasília – The federal government, under President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, is preparing to conduct technical visits in 2026 to all medical schools in Brazil as part of an initiative by the Ministries of Education and Health. The inspections aim to assess institutional capacity, clinical infrastructure and educational quality, amid concerns about the rapid expansion of medical courses without commensurate resources. Many institutions may face vacancy reductions or suspension of new admissions if they fail to meet minimum standards.

Sources indicate the government is abandoning the idea of an “OAB for medicine” (a single national exam for physicians) in favour of continuous institutional evaluation. The number of medical‐school positions has grown from about 23,000 in 2014 to more than 50,000 by 2025. The strategy signals a shift from quantity to quality in medical training, with scrutiny on teacher qualifications, hospital partnerships and performance in the newly instituted National Medical Education Assessment (ENAMED). Institutions scoring lowest may see their admissions suspended starting in the first half of 2026.

The move also addresses a deepening mismatch between school leavers and specialist training: between 2018 and 2024, medical school enrolments increased by 71 %, while residency positions grew only 26 %, leaving many graduates without specialty training and burdening the health system. The expected outcome is a more structured expansion of medical education aligned with regional needs and practical training capacity.

Source: Folha de S.Paulo