Thoughts on the state of family medicine in South Africa

Abstract

Sometimes it feels to us that, as family physicians in South Africa, we are like the dog that is chasing the bus. Now that we have finally caught it, we aren't quite sure what to do with it. At times, it feels that it would have been better if we had never caught this bus of family medicine becoming a specialty, and all that this brings with it. This may seem like heresy to many colleagues. However, we have many questions as to the state of things in this country of ours, specifically in terms of family medicine and the future of health care. What is the role that we are going to play? What is the role that we are already playing?