Developing high quality family medicine practice to safeguard the health of our population and towards a healthy development of our health care system

Abstract

The recent discussion paper on the future service delivery model for our health care system has highlighted the importance of family physicians. It is important to highlight the unique skills of family physicians and explore how best to build up the basic competencies from undergraduate to postgraduate level. A system of certification for family physicians is needed but we must take into account the historical development of Family Medicine in Hong Kong. The certification system must be reasonable in assuring basic standards. It should also be possible for all practicing primary care physicians to achieve without great difficulty. One should use the concept of professional development for doctors already in practice to achieve the basic competencies in Family Medicine. The family physicians must be well positioned in the health care delivery system and the future system should enable them to be more directly involved in chronic disease management, preventive health services and health promotion activities. All these initiatives need to be put in action as soon as possible.