Developing family medicine in South Africa: A new and important step for medical education

Abstract

The announcement by the National Ministry of Health on the 17th August 2007 (South African Government ), officially recognizing family medicine as a speciality in its own right is an indication of just how far ‘general practice’ has developed in South Africa. From January 2008 there is to be a compulsory, full-time four- year training programme for registrars in Family Medicine which should result in a well trained cohort of Family Physicians suitable to staff Community Health Centres and Primary Care Hospitals in the future. This article seeks to explore some of the milestones reached in the development of the community of family medicine professionals and teachers, the roles taken by the major protagonists in the development and the way that medical education can promote and sustain the discipline.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Derek Hellenberg

DEREK HELLENBERG is the Professor of Family Medicine at the University of Cape Town, South Africa. He is responsible for implementation of the extended teaching programme in Family Medicine in the new undergraduate curriculum. He is also very involved in the training programme for family medicine/mental-health interns in the Cape Town Region and has contributed nationally to the development of a core registrar training programme for Family Medicine in South Africa.

Trevor Gibbs

Prof TREVOR GIBBS was formerly Professor of Medical Practice & Education at the Bute Medical School, University of St Andrews, Scotland. He previously held the Chair of Health Sciences Education and Family Medicine at the University of Cape Town. His work through the Association of Medical Education in Europe provides a strong international perspective to medical education. Presently he is Visiting Professor of Medical Education to Gifu University School of Medicine, Gifu, Japan.