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The contribution of family physicians to district health services in South Africa: A national position paper by the South African Academy of Family Physicians

South African Academy of Family Physicians
South African Family Practice | Vol 64, No 1 : Part 2| a5473 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/safp.v64i1.5473 | © 2022 Robert J. Mash | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 11 December 2021 | Published: 17 March 2022

About the author(s)

South African Academy of Family Physicians, South African Academy of Family Physicians, Cape Town, South Africa

Abstract

The purpose of this position paper by the South African Academy of Family Physicians (SAAFPs) is to inform decision making on human resources for health policy in South Africa and the placement of family physicians (FPs) in the district health system. National policies have been marred by misunderstanding of the roles and contribution of FPs; and there is unhelpful variability in how FPs are positioned in the health services between provinces. In the private sector, medical aid schemes have discriminated against FPs by failing to remunerate them as specialists and to recognise their scope of practice.


Keywords

family physicians; human resources; policy; workforce; district health system; district health services

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