The Brazilian Ministry of Health, in partnership with the Ministry of Education, created the Program for the Promotion of Curriculum Changes in Medical Schools (Promed) in 2002, with the aim of providing financial support for schools to develop and implement curricular changes in compliance with the National Curriculum Guidelines (DCN), in three key areas: theoretical orientation, practice scenarios, and pedagogical approach. The aim of the current study was to identify the curricular changes introduced in medical schools covered by Promed. A questionnaire was prepared and applied by the Promed team, and the data were submitted to descriptive analysis. Twelve medical schools implemented a modular curriculum as the model. The inclusion of teaching and services in primary care require specific managerial and policy efforts. Changes are also needed in the academic concepts, besides preparing the healthcare system to absorb clerkships, since the changes are still limited in the main areas of primary care. A change is currently underway in the structure, although to a lesser degree than desired.
Curriculum; Promed; Medicine