The Brazilian government under President Lula has officially revoked a previously announced notice for establishing new medical courses in private institutions. This decision, published in an extraordinary edition of the Diário Oficial da União, comes after the Ministry of Education (MEC) had already postponed the initiative four times. The initiative sought to create up to 5,900 new medical education slots as part of the Mais Médicos program, which regulates the conditions for the establishment of new medical degrees in the country.

The revocation aligns with recent findings from the National Exam of Medical Education (Enamed), which highlighted serious deficiencies in the quality of medical education in Brazil, particularly within private institutions. These findings raised significant concerns regarding the preparedness of medical graduates, leading to pressure on the government to reassess the validity of opening new courses. The MEC's decision has not been clarified further, as they have not responded to queries from the media regarding the rationale behind the abrupt cancellation.

This move has significant implications for Brazil's healthcare landscape as the country has faced challenges with medical staff shortages, especially in underserved regions. The cancellation of new medical courses could hinder efforts to address these shortages unless existing education quality and readiness are significantly improved. Given that the creation of medical courses was initially halted back in 2018 under former President Michel Temer, this decision may reflect ongoing tensions regarding educational standards and healthcare policy in Brazil.