The Role of the Family Doctor.

Two documents appear in this issue of SA Family Practice. The role of the General Practitioner,/Family Physician in Hcalth Care Systems, contains the studied and well considered views of the World Organisation of Family Doctors' and the other, The Role of the Doctor in Primarv Health Care'. the views of a broad ipectrum of leading S African cloctors. In 1992 we hope to move both nationally and internationally closer to these ideals. Vocational Training for Family Physicians, of a high standard, available to all who intend practising in the field of family medicine,/primary health care,/ general practicc is the key to this future. Hopefullv 1992 will be the year in whiih South Africa gets vocational training for family ohvsicians on the statute book in line wiih the international communiry. This. however. will be of little value in thc climate of economic stringency that we live in. Without a broad commitment from generalist doctors, the government, medical schools and our specialist colleagues the statutary requirement for vocational training will not become a reality. A commitmcnt to the establishment of vocational training means many things. It mcans a change of understanding with those doctors who believe that family practicc is not a discipline but merely something that doctors do, which surgeons, internists. obstetricians and gynaecologists, paediatricians and psychiatrists have taught them to do. It means that oosts will have to be used all ouer the country as training posts for vocational trainees and that ihere will bc a sufficient number of senior posts redeployed as family physician posts to accommodate thosc who will supervise and teach the trainecs. It means that we in family practice will have to broaden our outlook and practise, to become true generalists who have an understanding of disease, the person, the family and community. It means that a large number of us will have to get involved in establishing training opportunities and investing our time into thc future of the discioline of family practice. It has been, and still remains, the Academy's view that medicine practised as defined in the two documents reprinted in this issue, gives the best outcome for those who entrust their health care to us. We believe it is the most cost e{Iective wav to Dromotc health and deal with dislase. It is further our inrention to continue to develoo vocational trarnrng opportunltles ln under-served areas to make a contribution towards redressing the …