Contact EURACT

E-mail

Phone
(32) 16 33 74 64

FAX
(32) 16 33 74 80

SWEDEN

Basic Medical Education

The role of Family Medicine becomes more prominent at several Medical Universities.

• Professional development more important. Often as a “stream”, every year.
  Competencies referring to ethical aspects, consultation skills, leadership, role of the doctor etc.
  Family Medicine plays a central role.
• Increased need of trained tutors in Hospital Departments as well as in General Practice.
  Family Medicine Departments are asked to run training sessions for tutors in Hospitals.
• Electives increasing: Projects and research in Family Medicine becoming more popular. International exchange programmes: e.g. Göteborg – Netherlands, Umeå – South Africa.
• A new medical curriculum implemented at Umeå University as from Year 2005. Involves more of family medicine/general practice, use of case methodology increases, professional development and a basic course in medical science.

Vocational training

New and same framework for all disciplines as decided by the National Board of Health and Welfare in November 2004.

• 4 core competencies: clinical, communication, leadership and quality assurance/scientific.
• Format: Objectives – learning method – evaluation/assessment.

Continuing Professional Development

• Personal Learning Plans and small group activities being encouraged.
• As from Year 2005 there is an agreement, between drug-companies and health authorities, regulating CPD-activities done in collaboration with pharmaceutical industries.
• Some course-organisers of family medicine topics avoid collaboration with drug-companies.

Financial constraints

• Efficiency and efficacy are promoted at all levels: personnel, investigations etc.
• Prescribed drugs being changed to generic drugs at the pharmacy.
• Increasing number of patients are managed in General Practice/Primary Care instead of in Hospitals.

What have I done for EURACT?

• Distribution of EURACT pamphlets at our National Conference in Family Medicine.
• Article about EURACT to be published soon in our Swedish Journal of Family Medicine
• Informing and communication with members.