This joint publication from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Organization of Family Doctors (WONCA) provides a concise analysis of the state of family practice in the 22 countries spread over North Africa, the Middle East and Western Asia, i.e. the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) in both English and Arabic. It shares perspectives and advice from global and regional leaders on how family practice can be introduced and strengthened in high-, middle- and low-income countries.

This is the first book to analyze in depth the current causes of shortage of family physicians and the relative weakness of the family practice model in many countries in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. Focusing on engagement with the private health sector in scaling up family practice, the book explores why primary health care can make the difference and how it can be introduced and strengthened. Comparative experiences from around the world put the EMR in context, while the book also highlights where the EMR is special – in particular, the burden for health care of refugees and displaced persons, and the need of public-private partnerships.

This joint publication from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Organization of Family Doctors (WONCA) provides a concise analysis of the state of family practice in the 22 countries spread over North Africa, the Middle East and Western Asia, i.e. the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) in both English and Arabic. It shares perspectives and advice from global and regional leaders on how family practice can be introduced and strengthened in high-, middle- and low-income countries.

Containing papers carefully compiled for both their historical importance and contemporary relevance, Family Medicine: The Classic Papers brings together a team of experts, led by global family medicine leaders Michael Kidd, Iona Heath and Amanda Howe, who explain the importance of each selected paper and how it contributes to international health care, current practice and research. The papers demonstrate the broad scope of primary health care delivered by family doctors around the world, showcasing some of the most important research ever carried out in family medicine and primary care. This unique volume will serve as an inspiration to current family doctors and family medicine researchers and educators, as well as to doctors in training, medical students and emerging researchers in family medicine.

"This guidebook systematically analyses the contribution of family medicine to highquality primary health care in addressing the challenges faced by current health systems, and provides options for moving forward. It serves as a pragmatic guide to potential strategies for putting in place family care teams which effectively contribute to health sec

"Introduction: It has been increasingly recognized that social determinants can impact the health of patients and populations. Although there are a growing number of publications and studies about this topic in industrialized countries, relatively little is published in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. In particular, there is little known about how physicians in this region can help to address the underlying social causes of poor health of their patients. The objectives of this study are: 1) To identify common social challenges faced by patients in Eastern Mediterranean countries, 2) To assess what doctors are already doing to address these challenges, 3) To identify barriers and facilitators for addressing the social causes of poor health in the clinical encounter, and 4). To explore the main similarities and differences between doctors' experiences in Eastern Mediterranean countries as compared to the Canadian context where social accountability is increasingly emphasized in medical education and accreditation standards of health care institutions. Methods: We conducted a qualitative research study employing a qualitative descriptive methodology. A maximum variation purposive sampling approach was used to recruit physicians with a wide range of age groups, genders, countries of origin, types of clinical practice and years since training. A snowball technique was also used to identify additional participants. Recruitment continued until data saturation was reached. In total, semi-structured in-depth interviews were carried out with 18 doctors who were trained in Eastern Mediterranean countries but have since moved to Canada. In this way, all study participants had in-depth understanding and practical clinical experience as health professionals in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, as well as an awareness of the Canadian health care system and context. All interviews were conducted in English, whether in person or over the phone, and transcribed verbatim. A conventional content analysis was used to analyze the data.Results: According to study respondents, the main social challenges of patients in the Eastern Mediterranean Region include poverty, illiteracy, domestic violence, unstable families, and food insecurity. Doctors there have attempted to help their patients by providing free medical services and free medications, establishing a donation box for underprivileged patients and referring to social workers, where available. Barriers to addressing social determinants in this context include cultural constraints, lack of time, unfamiliarity or unavailability of social support organizations, shortages of family doctors, and lack of formal training in how to address social determinants of health. Study participants acknowledged that Canadian health care providers have greater access to a wide range of social support resources, a better developed social security network for patients living with disadvantage, and increasingly more training and awareness about the social determinants of health and social accountability role than in their countries of origin. Conclusions: Most study participants expressed their willingness to help patients in dealing with social challenges, and shared their experiences of tackling such issues, though there were also important barriers reported that would need to be overcome. Participants suggested that better addressing social challenges in clinical care within the Eastern Mediterranean context would require educating both doctors and patients about the importance of discussing the patient's social environment as part of the clinical encounter, as well as advocating for broader policy approaches by governments to address the underlying structural causes of widespread social challenges." --

This innovative and timely book draws on pioneering precedents, basic principles, current examples and international experience to capture the narratives, examples and ideas that underlie and demonstrate the exceptional potential of general practice: "If health care is not at is best where it is needed most, health inequalities will widen." "The unworried unwell are not hard to reach but they are easy to ignore and are often ignored." "With patient contact, population coverage, continuity, coordination, flexibility, long term relationships and trust, general practices are the natural hubs of local health systems." "... practitioners ... are not only scientists but also responsible citizens and if they did not raise their voice who else should?" Written for family doctors looking to strengthen local collaboration, it brings together the traditional strengths of consultations, caring, continuity, coordination and coverage with the current and future challenges of building capacity, community, creativity, consistency, collegiality and campaigning. It highlights the critical importance of working with patients, maximising the use of serial encounters, integrating care, joint working between practices, social prescribing, community development and advocacy based on patient and practitioner experience. Drawing on the highly-regarded work of Deep End GPs serving the poorest communities in Scotland ̶ www.gla.ac.uk/deepend ̶ the book is an invaluable handbook for all primary care doctors, irrespective of health care system or country, seeking to provide unconditional continuity of personalised care for all patients, whatever problem or combination of problems a patient may have.