Regional consultation on strengthening the role of family/community physicians in primary health care

Abstract

The importance of family physicians and general practitioners, who provide primary care in institutional and community settings in health systems, is often underestimated. With an increasing demand for specialization by medical graduates, the tradition of the family physician/general practitioner is on the decline. The epidemiologic and demographic transition, and the consequences of globalization, urbanization and climate change on health, require an effective health system based on primary care. This system should focus more on health promotion, disease prevention, and continuity of care, to which family physicians/general practitioners can significantly contribute. As "gate-keepers" at primary care facilities, they can improve the cost-effectiveness of health- care delivery and appropriate triaging for referral care. To deliberate the various issues related to strengthening family/community physicians, the WHO Regional Office for South-East Asia organized a Regional Consultation on Strengthening the Role of Family/Community Physicians in Primary Health Care in Jakarta, Indonesia, in October 2011. Thirty-five participants from 10 Member States of the Region attended the consultation. This publication contains an account of the deliberations and the recommendations made.