THE EUROPEAN DEFINITION
OF GENERAL PRACTICE/FAMILY MEDICINE

WONCA EUROPE
2002

The European Definitions of
The Key Features of the Discipline of General Practice
The Role of the General Practitioner
and
A description of the Core Competencies
of the General Practitioner/Family Physician

Prepared for WONCA EUROPE
(The European Society of General Practice/Family Medicine), 2002

Dr Justin Allen
Director of Postgraduate General Practice Education
Centre for Postgraduate Medical Education, University of Leicester, United Kingdom
President of EURACT

Professor Bernard Gay
President, CNGE, Paris, France, University of Bordeaux, France

Professor Harry Crebolder
Maastricht University, The Netherlands

Professor Jan Heyrman
Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium

Professor Igor Svab
University of Ljubljana, Slovenia

Dr Paul Ram
Maastricht University, The Netherlands

Edited by
Dr Philip Evans
President WONCA Europe

This statement is published with the support
and co-operation of the WHO Europe Office, Barcelona, Spain

1. Introduction
2. The European Definitions 2002
3. Explanatory notes - The new definitions
4. Explanatory notes - Core competencies
5. Academic review and analysis - The new definitions
6. Academic review and analysis - The core competencies
7. Appendices
   - Appendix 1 - Leeuwenhorst, WONCA and Olesen definitions
   - Appendix 2 - Preparation and consultation processes
   - Appendix 3 - Acknowledgements
   - Appendix 4 - Member countries of WONCA Europe
   - Appendix 5 - English Language definitions