Center for Health Market Innovations (CHMI)

Programs

Dr Consulta

last updated May 3, 2013

Overview

Implementing organization: 
Galicia Investments
Legal Status: 
Private (for-profit)
Year Launched: 
2011
Stage: 
Pilot/startup stage
Income Level of Target Population: 
Bottom 20%, 20-60% (lower to lower-middle)

Funding

Primary Source of Funding: 
Out-of-pocket payments
Funders: 
Thomaz Srougi

Scale

Personnel Employed: 
10-49
Number of Clients Served: 
600 procedures every 30 days
Other Measures of Scale: 
Since its inauguration, the clinic has grown 40% per month.
Summary: 

Dr Consulta is a start up low cost clinic in São Paulo, that was launched in August 2011. The goal is to offer high quality, low cost primary healthcare services (general practitioners, gynecology, pediatrics etc).

Program goals/rationale: 

In Brazil there are 135 million people who belong to the base of the socioeconomic pyramid and have limited access to health. The public health system has limited capacity to meet demand. Only 45% of health facilities in the country are public, and are unable to meet 80% of demand.Compounding the problem in Brazil, 30% of municipalities do not have hospitals and 25% did not have doctors. As a result, 40% of patients seen by the public feel that the health care service within the country is poor or very poor. For this reason, Dr. Consulta began, with the aim to solve these problems through low cost clinics, with a focus on patients.

Key program components: 

Dr. Consutla targets those that don't have health insurance. Clinics are located in lower income neighborhoods, and are easily accessible. There is always at least one doctor at the clinic at any given time, and there is a strong focus on good business management.

Offices are simple and are separated by partitions with formica and plastic chairs. There is a lack of tertiary medical equipment, such as that used in eye exams, ultrasounds, and electrocardiograms. In more serious cases, where hospitalization is necessary, patients are referred to the public hospital.

General consultations cost R$40 (~$20USD) and a visit with any any of the ten specialties provided, costs R$60 (~$30USD), with the ability to split the bill into two separate payments.

Hide this

Need help?

Using the CHMI Programs Database

  • Browse: Browse the database by applying one or more filters to narrow your search by characteristics. Click the "x" to remove any of the filters you've selected. Click "reset search" to remove all filters and start over.
  • Search: Search the database for a specific program by typing a name or keyword into the search box.
  • Add: If the program you're looking for is not in the CHMI database, submit the program to the CHMI pipeline by clicking here to add a program profile.
  • Update: If you notice incorrect or outdated information, or would like to help complete a profile for a CHMI pipeline program, request a change by clicking here, or at the top of the program profile.

Have a question? Check the FAQs first. Don’t see your question? Contact us.