[General physicians and general medicine: social image and public opinion]

During the last two decades, importance of general practice of medicine was more recognised. The kind of interest was different between Health decision makers and population. For Health decision makers, revalorisation of general medicine is the better solution we could develop in order to improve efficiency of the health care financing systems. However, From the side of population social image of the general physician is going down. In order to investigate the population view point about general practitioner, we conduct a trial next to 289 persons living Tunis area. Peoples recognized to the general practitioner some qualities: Useful for first aid, he integrates all aspects of the morbidity, initiates best relations with his patients and appropriately manages medical files. In the other side, He's less qualified than the specialist to take appropriate decision, for monitoring and for the quality of communication with patients. He' also lack of technicality and investigation procedures. Ours results indicate how it is urgent to lead a reform of teatching of general medicine in the country.