There is a shortage of general practitioners in Brazil, as most doctors prefer to enter specialized areas of work, which are more lucrative. To address this lack of sufficient primary care, the government has introduced an extensive family healthcare program in the public healthcare system, which has been decentralized and organized by multidisciplinary teams including physicians, dentists, nurses and Community Health Agents. There is no requirement in Brazil to for a GP referral for specialist treatment, so expatriates often go direct to specialist health providers in the private sector.

There are a number of private ambulance services in Brazil as well as the publicly-funded Servico de Assistencia Medica Urgente (SAMU), which is free to all citizens. There are no paramedics in Brazil because under Brazilian law non-physicians are not allowed to carry out advanced life support procedures.

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