Family medicine is a medical specialty within primary care that provides
continuing and comprehensive health care for the individual and family across
all ages, genders, diseases, and parts of the body. The specialist, who is
usually a primary care physician, is named a family physician. It is often
referred to as general practice and a practitioner as a general
practitioner. Historically, their role was once performed by any doctor with
qualifications from a medical school and who works in the community. However,
since the 1950s, family medicine / general practice has become a specialty in
its own right, with specific training requirements tailored to each country.