Family medicine in Iran: the birth of a new specialty

Since the revolution of 1978-1979, the government of Iran has worked toward development of a primary health care system to improve basic health for its citizens. Although infant mortality and other parameters have improved, increasing urbanization and poor lifestyle choices continue to present major challenges to improving overall health statistics in the country. Generalist physicians, with no training beyond medical school graduation, have not inspired confidence from patients or specialist colleagues. Therefore, many patients prefer to receive care for common health complaints from specialist physicians. Health care for many individuals tends to be episodic, driven by patient concerns for acute illness rather than by patient-centered, longitudinal care. The government of Iran has decided to develop family medicine as a specialty within the country to help respond to these problems. Based on an initial consultation with some leaders in the Ministry of Health and Medical Education, as well as students, nursing staff, subspecialists, administrators, and medical educators, a number of suggested steps were recommended to support the development of family medicine in Iran. These involved, among others, further development of the specialty and parity with other specialties, development of faculty and curricula, and a plan for financing rural health care.