Brazil Senate approves R$13.6k salary floor for doctors and dentists

The Senate's Commission on Social Affairs (CAS) voted unanimously to raise the national minimum wage for physicians and dentists to R$13,662 for a 20‑hour weekly workload, up from the current R$3,636. The reform also increases night‑shift and overtime premiums from 20 % to 50 %, mandates a ten‑minute rest break every 90 minutes, and obliges that senior positions in medical and dental services be filled by qualified professionals.

The measure applies to both public and private sectors. Fiscal estimates from the Ministry of Management and Innovation in Public Services project a total impact of about R$47 billion, with R$8.1 billion extra cost for federal doctors in 2026. Funding is to be provided through the National Health Fund, so states and municipalities will not bear the direct expense. The bill now proceeds to the Chamber of Deputies unless a Senate plenary challenge is filed. Senator Fernando Dueire described the change as a “historical reparations” for health workers, and other legislators highlighted its importance for expanding medical care in underserved regions.