The general practitioner of the future [De huisarts van de toekomst]

Abstract

There is currently debate on the need for a fundamental change in the organization of healthcare. Yet the reasons given for this, such as financial problems, population ageing, medical-technological progress, information technology, do not provide the complete picture and mask the real question - should medicine focus on the ailments/diseases a person has or on the person who has ailments/diseases? General practice medicine has long balanced between these two approaches: treatment of disease alone is insufficient, health services should be patient centred and available. For public health in general, these two core competences of general practitioners are as least as effective as disease-specific treatment. Well-equipped primary care is an essential element of future healthcare services, providing individuals or groups with support to take control of their own health: the future may lie in individual- and neighbourhood-centred care. Show more