The development and enhancement of general medical practice as major condition of successful modernization of primary health care

Abstract

To assess the state of general medical practice in the Russian Federation to identify its strengths and weaknesses, and to determine further ways of its development. The tasks. To analyze the volume and pace of development of general medical practice; to identify its impact on key demographic, medical and social indices; to assess foreign experience in this field; to elaborate proposals on intensifying process of its development in the Russian Federation. The analytical, sociological (n=1,573) and statistical methods were applied. Since 2007, the number of general practitioners in the Russian Federation and corresponding support of the population increased. During the same time period, population size, natality, mortality, morbidity of tuberculosis, essential hypertension and cataract had positive dynamics. The morbidity of malignant neoplasms, diabetes type II, glaucoma, coronary heart disease and cerebrovascular diseases had negative dynamics. The strong negative relationship of the population's general practitioners support was established only in case of all-cause mortality and morbidity of lungs tuberculosis. The population was more satisfied with support of general practitioner than district physician. The general practitioner support of the population of the Russian Federation continues to be insufficient and its role in public health management insignificant. The proposals are formulated to improve primary health care and its further development based on the principles of general medical practice on the basis of corresponding best international experiences and national specificity. Hence, in Russia, the national health care requires a set of measures targeted to strengthen the position of general medical practice system throughout ll territories.