[Preventive medicine in private medical practice]

The basis of preventive medicine for the individual is composed of health education, certain examinations and preventive treatments. A coherent approach is essential for efficiency of a program and avoidance of costly and nonessential expenditures. In the Swiss health system, the doctor's office could become more and more the center of preventive medicine for the individual. It would concern a large part of the population (in the United States, 80% of the men and 90% of the women consult a doctor at least once a year); offering a direct contact with the doctor of choice, advice specific for each case and the possibility of regular examinations by the same doctors. In many situations both public and private sources are involved in preventive medicine (public health services, doctors involved in the educational system, doctors involved in controll of security of working conditions, out-patient clinics, various health organizations). A collaboration among these sources should be organized and a reasonable division of the work established. A list of examinations and preventive treatments is presented.