The Trend of Family Physician in Iran and Selected Countries of the World: a Comparative Study

Family physician is introduced as a cost-effective approach to promote health equity. The health systems of different countries have gradually implemented this program in different ways according to the needs of society, policies, resources and internal infrastructure, more than half a century after the beginning of the family physician program. The purpose of this article is to review the experience of family physician program in Iran and selected countries and to introduce appropriate strategies.

This study is a descriptive comparative study. Information was extracted using the keywords of family physician, family medicine, health system, Iran, USA, UK, Canada, Turkey, Malaysia, China and in the websites of scientific articles. In addition, data from the World Health Organization and countries' health systems were used.

The history and developments of the family physician program, the duration of training in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Turkey, Malaysia, China and Iran were described.

Although there are similarities in the principles of family physician in most countries, but it is different in policies, strategies and methods of implementation and financing. Developments were made to upgrade the referral system and strengthen the position of family physician, with the aim of adapting the program to the needs of the people and solving problems and challenges