Family Practice across the Globe

Abstract

WONCA has developed and expanded to such an extent that it can now reach out to most of the peoples of this world. Most member-countries have well-established departments of Family Practice, headed by full professors, attaining the highest degree of professional competence. Many other societies cannot afford such highly qualified physicians, but they, too, should benefit from WONCA; and they could, if we revamp our philosophy and spell out the distinction between the Speciality of General Practice and the Concept of General Practice. Not all societies can afford the speciality of General Practice, but the concepts could be taught, applied and practised at all levels of medical care - from the nurse practitioner to the health worker to the highly qualified doctor. A practical example of the 4 different categories of "doctors" in China is given: WONCA could never train all those 2 million Chinese "doctors" to be fully proficient in the discipline bit WONCA can expose them to the basic concepts of continuing, comprehensive and whole person care - and the masses of people in the rural areas would benefit! And what is applicable to China, is applicable to Africa too!