Family physicians are generalists trained at the postgraduate level to
address the majority of primary care needs of patients of all ages in
communities they serve. Throughout the world there is a need for fami
ly physicians to serve as cornerstones of comprehensive health care sy
stems that provide high-quality, cost-effective medical and public hea
lth services to the entire population. To meet this need, each country
must value and adequately finance essential medical and public health
services and must provide family physicians with a thorough education
focused on the relevant health care problems of the population being
served. The authors present an overview of the status of this training
throughout the world, outline challenges to the development of such t
raining, and suggest strategies for successful development accompanied
by illustrative case studies from South Korea, Venezuela, and Pakista
n.