Comparision of Family Medicine Training Programs in the UK and Thailand

Abstract

Background: In the UK, modern General Practice has developed over a period of 50 years. By contrast, the specialty of Family Medicine is a new concept in Thailand being promoted recently by the government in response to economic crisis. Despite this perceived need, in Thailand Family Medicine is not fully recognized as a specialty by the public or the medical profession. Through a lack of resources and expertise very few doctors are training as family physicians. This review of training programs in the UK and Thailand looks both for common ground and differences in approach between the two countries. Methods: Comparison of the characteristics of the two training programs. Results: Similarities, differences, strengths and weaknesses of each system. Conclusion: Despite differences between the two health care systems, there are sufficient similarities between FP training programs in the UK and Thailand for successful approaches to be shared.