Conceptual and Contextual Paradigm of the Family as a Unit of Care

The faculty of General Medical Practice has change its name to the faculty of Family Medicine The change has come partly due to world wide response to the call by the World organization of family doctors calling on all colleges, academies, societies and associations of general practitioners that have a postgraduate/specialty program to change and due to pressure from societal view of the certified members not being regarded as a specialist. Also the public view of not being able to differentiate those with basic medical degree and those who have acquired specialist qualification from the general practitioners has prompted this paper. Using a convenient sample of key informants who were faculty officers in the National postgraduate medical college of Nigeria and the West African college of physicians faculty of General medical practice /family practice who sourced information from documents and the internet this paper explores the extent to which Family Doctors are being trained to be relevant in the West African subregion. The principles, attributes and skills for family practice in a developing economy as ours is highlighted. It is the breath of care of family practice with a depth of competencies that makes the difference from general medical practice Nig. Medical Practitioner Vol. 45(1/2) 2004: 9-13