[History of internal medicine]

The concept of Internal Medicine was introduced recently and stems from the Internal Pathology which dates back to Antiquity. This concept spread out during the XIXth century with the concomitant progress of clinical science and heurism within a global and humanistic medicine. In France, Internal Medicine was not recognized until 1966. The criteria of eligibility for certification in this specialty were issued in 1970. The Syndicat National des Médecins Spécialistes de Médecine Interne, the Société Nationale Française de Médecine Interne and the diploma of certification in Internal Medicine were respectively created in 1975, 1979, 1984. The field of interest of Internal Medicine is wide and ambiguous. It includes a specific hard core and less specific allocations that encroach on "organ" specialties. French internist practitioners are not numerous and most of them are practising in hospitals. Internal Medicine is highly regarded in Anglo-Saxon countries and in Germany. In the European Community, the future of this medical specialty depends on the success of the harmonization of training programs and the development of medical students exchange. There is currently a controversy about the recognition of Internal Medicine as a full specialty. To bring out this specialty, French internists should benefit from reforms at several levels: university, hospital and French health service contract.