[The family physician within the health care system]

Having in mind the importance, place and role of a family physician within the health care system and its contribution to health improvement both of individuals and groups, the authors present the most important statements from the World Health Organisation's Charter for General Practice Family Medicine, and its characteristics--accessibility, integrity, continuity, team work, orientation towards the person, family and community, confidentiality, coordination. The paper also gives conditions for development of family medicine, such as structural, organisational and professional, as well as specific quality concerning the activity of a family physician.