Research on the Undergraduate and Postgraduate Medical Education Systems in Britain. Special Emphasis on the Training of General Practioners / 医学教育

ABSTRACT

The general practitioner (GP) system in Britain was developed about 40 years ago within the National Health Service (NHS) system. Currently 99% of people are registered to GPs from whom they receive primary care and, if necessary, are referred to specialists working in hospitals. Thus, there is a marked difference between the health care systems of Japan and Britain. However, the GP educational system in Britain is very helpful in increasing the number of doctors practicing primary care. The following are proposed in order to reform the pre-and postgraduate medical education system in Japan. 1. An integrated curriculum including the subject of community practice should be introduced early in the undergraduate years. 2. A compulsory, broad clinical training system that includes community practice should be introduced in the early postgraduate period. 3. The international experience of clinical trainees should be increased in order to catch up with changes in the health care in other parts of the world.