World Family Doctor Day Date in the current year: May 19, 2024

Family medicine, also known as general practice in some countries, is a medical specialty within primary care, i.e. the day-to-day healthcare given by a healthcare provider. Family doctors (family physicians, general practitioners) provide individualized, comprehensive, and long-term healthcare, preventive care and health education to patients of all ages and genders.

Back in the day, the term “family doctor” could be applied to any medical doctor working in the community. However, since the mid-20th century, family medicine has become a medical specialty in its own right. Today, a family doctor is a primary care physician whose duties are not confined to a specific field of medicine and who is able to treat a wide range of acute and chronic illnesses.

Each country has its own training and qualification requirements for general practitioners. In some countries, internists may act as general practitioners, but in most countries whose healthcare systems incorporate general practice the training of family doctors may include other fields of medicine in addition to internal medicine, such as obstetrics, pediatrics, and surgery.

General practitioners are usually the first point of contact for patients who seek medical care. They are often referred to as the heart of healthcare because they form long-term relationships with their patients that can last for years and even decades. Family doctors know their patient’s medical history, social circumstances, lifestyle and healthcare needs, which allows them to provide personalized care and help their patients navigate the healthcare system.

General practitioners don’t just treat patients; their role in preventive care and health education is just as important. A good family doctor helps his or her patients maintain good health and educates patients on making healthy lifestyle choices, preventing illness, and managing chronic diseases.

World Family Doctor Day (WFDD) was launched in 2010 by the World Organization of Family Doctors (World Organization of National Colleges, Academies and Academic Associations of General Practitioners/Family Physicians, WONCA), a global organization dedicated to fostering high standards of care in family medicine/general practice. The main goal of the WFDD campaign is to highlight the vital role of general practitioners and their teams in healthcare systems around the world.

There are many ways to celebrate World Family Doctor Day. The easiest one is to reach out to your general practitioner and thank them for everything they’ve done for you (if sending a card or flowers to your family doctor is considered appropriate in your culture, you should absolutely do it). And don’t forget to spread the word about the holiday on social media with the hashtags #WorldFamilyDoctorDay, #FamilyDoctorDay and #WFDD.