What's in it for me? (To be a member of the SA Academy of Family Practice/Primary Care)

Abstract

The SA Academy of Family Practice is now in its l2th year of existence, and if measured by our impact on Family Practice, the question to be asked really is whether it means something to us family doctors or not? It is human nature to expect something from being a member, after all we pa,y to stay within the membership ranks, and our expectations, to say the least, are that we should get something for our payment? Then again, if we attach a tangible value to education, to setting standards, and ultimately to recognition of purpose, we should see these objectives being used in achieving our goal, which is "to raise the standards of Health of the Individual, Families and Communities of South Africa- bv developing Primary Health Care' Personnel and the discipline of Family Medicine" - a Mission Statement defined at a Workshop in May 199I, and which we now need to address recognising its implications. However, having academic ideals may carry impact, but we still have to find realistic value and Purpose, to motivate doctors to become members. So what's in it for us?