Becoming a Family Medicine Specialist

Abstract

South Africa embarked on the road to establish family medicine as a medical specialty during the early 1990’s. A special registration category of “family physician” was created to give recognition to practitioners who have completed postgraduate education in family medicine, such as the MFamMed or MCFP(SA). In 2000, a compulsory period of vocational training for registration in this category was introduced, which meant a period of supervised clinical training in an approved clinical training position. Applicants for registration in this category were screened and accredited by the Committee for Family Medicine (CFM) of the Medical and Dental Professions Board (MDPB).