Abstract
Internationally, there is a move towards strengthening primary healthcare systems and encouraging community-based and socially responsible education. The development of doctors with an interest in primary healthcare and family medicine in the African region should begin during undergraduate training. Over the last few years, attention has been given to the development of postgraduate training in family medicine in the African region, but little attention has been given to undergraduate training. This article reports on the 8th PRIMAFAMED (Primary Care and Family Medicine Education) network meeting held in Nairobi from 21 to 24 May 2016. At this meeting the delegates spent time presenting and discussing the current state of undergraduate training at 18 universities in the region and shared lessons on how to successfully implement undergraduate training. This article reports on the rationale for, information presented, process followed and conclusions reached at the conference.
Highlights
Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest global burden of disease and the lowest number of health workers per population.[1]
In many African countries, primary healthcare (PHC) is the weakest part of the healthcare system, which often focuses on a limited number of priority conditions that are addressed through fragmented vertical programmes offered by health workers with limited training, skills and support.[2]
In the African context, the family physician is usually trained to work at the district hospital as well as in primary care facilities and communitybased services.[5]
Summary
Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest global burden of disease and the lowest number of health workers per population.[1]. In many African countries, the discipline of family medicine is struggling to establish itself in the educational and health systems, often because of the low status of PHC and district health services.[4] In the African public sector, first contact care is rarely offered by doctors and is most likely to be obtained from a nurse, clinical officer (mid-level clinician) or community health worker.[5] there is growing recognition that family physicians should be part of the multidisciplinary PHC team.[6] Family physicians are doctors who have completed postgraduate training in order to become expert generalists.[5] In the African context, the family physician is usually trained to work at the district hospital (sometimes called primary hospital or sub-district hospital) as well as in primary care facilities and communitybased services.[5] family physicians are the appropriate physicians to serve in the essential PHC teams
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