In the 1970-1980 period there was a considerable increase in the number of institutions of higher education in Brazil which are located mostly in the Southeast region of the country. The distribution of medical schools is not correlated with the distribution of population. In 59 out of 76 medical schools the internship has a duration of two semesters, in five schools three, and in 12 schools four semesters. The medical residence programs are, with 68% of 9,644 total vacancies, considerably concentrated in the Southeast region.