Two decades ago, family physicians were anticipated to become critical cogs in South Africa’s public healthcare system, but they have been hugely under-utilised. Now, finally, the National Department of Health (NDoH) has promised that the situation is about to change, reports Spotlight.
The NDoH says it wants more family physicians appointed as clinical managers tasked with leading multi-disciplinary district hospital teams – after years of lobbying by the SA Academy of Family Physicians (SAAFP).
The SAAFP has long argued over the cost and clinical effectiveness of these “super generalists”, who do four extra years of training, with an emphasis on clinical governance and knowledge of social factors influencing people’s health.
Their patience appears to have been rewarded with a five-year district health blueprint from government. ….more