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Assessing the impact of more doctors’ program on healthcare indicators in Brazil

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  • Mattos, Enlinson
  • Mazetto, Debora

Abstract

This paper aimed to assess the short term effects of the More Doctors Program, launched by the Brazilian federal government in 2013. Using a differences-in-differences approach with municipal data collected between 2010 and 2015, we confirmed that MDP has two correlated impacts. First, it has increased health service attendance in treated municipalities. We documented that appointments, consults, referrals, and home visits have increased by 5.9%, 9.4%, 12.3%, and 29.7%, respectively. Second, we found a negative impact on hospitalization. We argue that intensification of health service access has reduced general hospitalization (4.6%). However, it does not seem to have been able to reduce mortality in the municipalities, in line with the previous literature. We believe that increases in referrals and appointments with specialists can be interpreted as a quality improvement, since a more precise diagnosis can reduce hospitalization due to faster health recovery but without any impact on mortality.

Suggested Citation

  • Mattos, Enlinson & Mazetto, Debora, 2019. "Assessing the impact of more doctors’ program on healthcare indicators in Brazil," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 1-1.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:wdevel:v:123:y:2019:i:c:6
    DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2019.104617
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    Cited by:

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    2. Godager , Geir & Scott, Anthony, 2023. "Physician Behavior and Health Outcomes," HERO Online Working Paper Series 2023:3, University of Oslo, Health Economics Research Programme.
    3. Dias, Mateus & Fontes, Luiz Felipe, 2020. "The Effects of a Large-Scale Mental-Health Reform: Evidence from Brazil," MPRA Paper 104753, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    4. Marcelo Castro & Enlinson Mattos & Fernanda Patriota, 2021. "The effects of health spending on the propagation of infectious diseases," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 30(10), pages 2323-2344, September.
    5. Fonseca Morello, Thiago, 2023. "Hospitalization due to fire-induced pollution in the Brazilian Amazon: A causal inference analysis with an assessment of policy trade-offs," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    6. Stefan Sliwa Ruiz & Malte Becker & Thomas Hone & Rudi Rocha, 2023. "Doctor Turnover and Health Outcomes: Evidence from the Exit of Cuban Doctors in Brazil," Working Papers 18, Instituto de Estudos para Políticas de Saúde.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Policy evaluation; Physicians supply; Healthcare indicators;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H43 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods - - - Project Evaluation; Social Discount Rate
    • C13 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - Estimation: General
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health

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