A More Functional and Effective Family Medicine Practice Is Possible

Fatih Özcan

Keywords: Functional and effective family medicine practice, violence in health, prestige of primary health care services, motivation of family physicians

Background:
The family medicine practice has been applied by the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Turkey since 2004. In spite of It receiving many criticisms, it is a reform in Turkey's primary health care services.

Research questions:
Is a more functional and effective family medicine practice possible?

Method:
We can say that it is the most rational approach to reveal the main problems and implement possible solutions to improve family medicine practice in our country.
In order to achieve this; professional organizations, trade unions, and the ministry of health can overcome problems by working closely.

Results:
Significant problems and solutions:
1) Violence in health:
This is not only a problem of primary health care institutions and the whole health community. Without solving this problem, it is impossible to increase the motivation of health workers involved in family medicine practice.
2) Lack of dialogue:
In this regard, more official institutions have a duty.
3) Increasing the prestige of primary health care services, in particular, the family medicine practice.
- Providing a response note to the family physician regarding by the branch specialist in the 2nd and 3rd level health institutions.
- Providing imaging examinations at a basic level will increase the quality of service in primary care.
- Inappropriate rest report requests from the physician (for a social event), which has an essential place among the applications, should be prevented by introducing different legal measures.
4) Education and research efforts of family health center staff should be supported. Those who are active in this field should be rewarded and encouraged.
5) Patients must be obliged to make an appointment: It shouldn't be an application saying I was passing by the door.

Conclusions:
Increasing the motivation of all professionals working in family health centers, especially family physicians, is an inevitable prerequisite for better family medicine.

Points for discussion:
Which issues should be highlighted in order to improve family medicine practice in Turkey?