Die Renaissance van die Huisarts/ The Renaissance of the Family Physician

Abstract

Medical science has no right of existence in its own, it is directly linked to the need of the suffering patient. This patient is more than his disease, and there is a rising need amidst all the spectacular scientific achievements, to approach man as a whole. Here the family physician is in the unique position to help the patient in his total life experience. There is n world-wide rebirth of the need to train GPs in this fundamental role in medicine, also in South Africa, and the author explains the type of training which is necessary and which should be done at new specific Department of Family Medicine at all Medical Schools in the RSA: improve his scientific, professional understanding, help him grow as a whole person with feelings and imagination, and sharpen his moral ethics. Note by the editor: Keynote Address given at the fist GP Congress August 1978, Johannesburg.