Internet Healthcare English Terminology Explained: GP Files IPO Prospectus

What is GP?

General Practitioners (GPs) are physicians who treat acute and chronic diseases, while also providing patients with preventive healthcare services and health education.

The World Organization of Family Doctors defines general practitioners as professionals who provide comprehensive healthcare services to every individual seeking medical care and, when necessary, arrange for other health professionals to deliver related services. Their responsibilities extend beyond merely treating patients’ physical organs; they encompass treatment, care, and counseling that address physiological, psychological, and social factors.

The role of general practitioners varies across different countries and regions. In urban areas of developed nations, their primary focus is on the management of chronic diseases, early detection and referral of critically ill patients, as well as prevention and immunization. In rural areas of developed countries or in developing nations, general practitioners may also be involved in emergency care, obstetric deliveries, community hospital services, and minor surgical procedures.

Unlike specialists in comprehensive or specialized tertiary hospitals who focus on the treatment and research of complex and refractory diseases, general practitioners typically practice in institutions that provide primary healthcare services. They help patients manage most minor and common illnesses and deliver preventive care services, serving as accessible “medical service providers” within communities. Their role is primarily characterized by three key features:

First, it emphasizes the provision of continuous, comprehensive, and individualized care for patients;
Second, it emphasizes the early detection and management of diseases, as well as disease prevention and health maintenance;
Third, it emphasizes the provision of continuous management and services to patients within community settings, and coordinates the utilization of other resources both within and outside the community as needed.

Introduction to the General Practitioner System Abroad

1. United States
In the United States, the general practitioner (GP) system is referred to as the "gatekeeper" system of the healthcare delivery framework and the primary care first-contact system for health insurance beneficiaries. It mandates that all individuals enrolled in health insurance must receive initial diagnosis and treatment from a general practitioner upon falling ill, with referrals to specialized or general hospitals made only after the GP’s assessment. Since the 1950s, the GP system has become a major pillar of the U.S. healthcare service system, with GP services widely available in cities, towns, and communities. In 1957, the United States enacted legislation to enhance medical equipment in community healthcare settings and strengthen management, which encouraged a significant number of tertiary hospital physicians to practice in communities. This initiative improved the quality of community medical services, alleviated the burden on the healthcare system, and further advanced the development of the GP system. In the U.S., the work of general practitioners primarily focuses on preventive care, treatment of minor illnesses, management of chronic diseases, and continuous follow-up care. However, in areas with insufficient medical resources, capable physicians may, within their scope of practice, perform surgeries, deliver babies, handle emergency cases, and provide basic medical services such as mental health and public health care. They may also assume responsibilities for community health education, disease management, and vaccination programs, playing a critically important role in the healthcare of community residents.

2. United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom, general practitioners (GPs) are the primary providers of national primary healthcare services. Their community-based responsibilities include primary medical care, health promotion, chronic disease management, immunization, referrals, and post-emergency follow-up care. In the referral process, GPs serve as "gatekeepers," meaning that patients cannot directly access secondary or tertiary hospital services without a GP’s authorization. The UK ensures that GPs fulfill their intended role through a strict referral system. Becoming a GP requires at least nine years of education and training. This begins with a minimum of five years of medical school study. After graduation, one year of clinical practice allows individuals to apply to the General Medical Council for registration as a doctor. Registered doctors must then undergo at least three additional years of clinical training and practice, and finally pass the examination administered by the Royal College of General Practitioners to become fully qualified GPs. GPs are not employees of the National Health Service (NHS); instead, the NHS contracts with them through intermediary organizations to deliver community health services within designated areas.

3. Australia
The role of general practitioners (GPs) in Australia is similar to that in the United Kingdom, providing services including disease diagnosis and treatment, healthcare delivery, infectious disease prevention and surveillance, health counseling, and referrals. The majority of GPs’ income derives from the national health insurance scheme, Medicare. Aspiring GPs must undergo intensive training at the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. Furthermore, the federal government has established a professional registration framework under which GPs who have completed standardized vocational training are eligible for higher reimbursement rates, thereby serving as a work incentive for physicians.

The Development of the General Practitioner System in China
China introduced the concept of general practice in the late 1980s. After more than two decades of development, a preliminary system for general practice education and qualification access has been established, and the workforce of general practitioners (GPs) has continued to expand. On June 22, 2011, the Executive Meeting of the State Council decided to establish a general practitioner system. The meeting pointed out that general practitioners are highly comprehensive medical professionals who primarily provide integrated services at the grassroots level, including preventive care, diagnosis and treatment of common and frequently occurring diseases, referral, patient rehabilitation, chronic disease management, and health management. They are regarded as the “gatekeepers” of residents’ health. The meeting required that by 2012, every urban community health service institution and rural township health center should have qualified general practitioners. Through several more years of effort, China aims to basically form a standardized training model for general practitioners and a service model with initial consultations at the grassroots level, essentially achieving a ratio of 2–3 qualified general practitioners per 10,000 residents in both urban and rural areas.

However, compared with European and American countries, the development of China’s general practitioner (GP) system is still in its infancy. On one hand, there is a severe shortage of GPs, coupled with low professional competency and significant brain drain. On the other hand, the training framework for GPs remains imperfect; standardized residency training has only just begun, with most programs relying on job-transfer training for incumbent healthcare workers, making it difficult to ensure personnel quality. Beijing was among the first cities in China to initiate GP workforce development, yet after more than a decade of efforts, the talent gap remains substantial. In many parts of central and western China, conditions are not even in place to train GPs. Furthermore, continuing medical education often amounts to mere formality, while GPs suffer from low professional status and inadequate income, rendering the profession unattractive.

Establishing a general practitioner system and gradually building a primary healthcare workforce led by general practitioners is a key component of healthcare reform, holding significant importance for improving the quality of primary medical and health services and alleviating the public’s difficulties in accessing affordable healthcare.

By Liu Nan | Edited by Mo Renying

General Advisor for VCBeat’s Glossary of Trending English Terms in Internet Healthcare: Zhao Xinyuan, current CEO of Beijing Yingtai Kelong Technology Co., Ltd., and member of the HL7 China Technical Steering Committee.

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