Summary:
This paper is based on observation and data obtained during a visiting program made by the Author to 10 of the 12 Programs of Residency in General Community Medicine existing at presente in Brazil. The visits were made with the purpose to elaborate a report on Family Medicine Situation in Brazil to be sent to Pan American Health Organization.
The expression General Community Medicine is used as synonymous of Family Medicine or General Medicine.
The two first programs of medical residency purposing to give training in general community medicine were created in 1976 by “Muriald Sanitary Unit” of the State of Rio Grande do Sul Department of Health and by the Community Health Program - Vitoria Project of the Federal University of Pernambuco.
As a new speciality, community general medicine is still facing conceptual and practical problems concerning definition of occupational profile, opportunities of job in the market and the best conditions for training this new professional.
Primary health care is the basis of the community general physician's occupational profile. He is supposed to work as member of a multiprofessional team in regionalized and hierarchical systems of health services.