One swallow does not a summer make: Twenty years of challenges and achievements of family medicine in Mozambique

Abstract

After 20 years of hard work, family medicine (FM) is flourishing in Mozambique, but the challenges are immense in a context of multiple health needs. This study aimed to describe strengths, opportunities, weaknesses and threats of the current scenario that can influence the development of FM and primary health care (PHC) in Mozambique. Case study of a series of virtual world-café meetings using the World Health Organization’s Operational Framework for primary health care as a theoretical model. There is a young generation of Family Physicians (FPs) eager to improve PHC in Mozambique – a result of the reactivation of the Maputo Residency Programme and the creation of the Mozambican College of FP in 2010. The current Ministry of Health has taken this agenda forward, inviting medical societies (including FM) to jointly design plans to expand training of human resources for healthcare. This plan aims to create new training sites in five different provinces hoping that it will increase the number of FP in remote areas, fixing the unequal distribution of specialists in the country. The small number of FP practicing today and the limited financial resources of the National Government are important threats to this plan. We have many strengths already conquered and the current situation opens an opportunity for the expansion of FM in Mozambique. Hopefully, it will help PHC in our country move from verticalised and selective health programmes towards a more comprehensive, efficient and person-centred care.