Family Medicine in Primary Care in South Africa

Abstract

The differences between public and private sector primary care in South Africa have been so emphasised that we have forgotten that both are grounded in the need we all have for care when sick. In focussing on the unjust disparity in the coverage offered by the over-supplied private sector and that offered by the under-supplied public sector, we have forgotten that these sectors have much ground in common. Although they differ widely in context, scale, premises, locale, staffing, and financing, both sectors need staff trained in family medicine to satisfy their clients' essential needs for care.