Professionalisation in medicine: beginnings, foundation and experience in the development of the profession and specialty in general/family medicine

Abstract:

The specialty of general medicine becomes more needed and important as the number of medical specialties and subspecialties increases. The originator of general medicine as a specialty, professor Ante Vuletić defined it as a scientifically and practically distinct profession based on the understanding of the unity of medicine and approach to patients as complete human beings in their natural and work environment. Therefore, family medicine is an integration of medical knowledge and experience rather than the sum of particular parts of other specialties or healthcare practice that only executes the instructions given by others. In Croatia, the specialty of general/family medicine started with the introduction of specific vocational and scientific postgraduate study, the first of its kind worldwide, at the “Andrija Štampar“ School of Public Health, Zagreb University School of Medicine, and with the development of professional organisation of general practitioners. It took 25 years for general/family medicine to become accepted as an academic department and the Chair of General Medicine and Primary Health Care (later Family Medicine) to be founded. However, there are still misunderstandings and its function in the primary care is limited. To be successful, family medicine has to gain the trust of both those it cares for and society to which it provides continuous and irreplaceable service of maintaining and improving health. In addition, a free, active and fair management of knowledge and skills development in training and application is of utmost importance, because it essential for modern professionalisation of any profession. Isolation, commercialisation and consequent neglect of social determinants of health and of cooperation lead to divisions within the profession, hindering its advancement. Thus, the important task of this specialty is not only to adopt new knowledge and skills, but also to recognise its own abilities and create togetherness, which will also result in a professionalisation on a higher level. 

Key words:
family practice; general practice; medicine; profesional autonomy; social responsibility