Eastern Europe
In Eastern Europe, the first post-graduate programs in family medicine were established in the late 1990s – 2000s. Family medicine societies exist in Eastern European countries, and family medicine is recognized as a part of primary care. In order to specialize in family medicine, one must enter a medical school program after completing high school. Medical school is 6 years in Eastern Europe, and during this time family medicine is taught as part of the curriculum. Once graduating from medical school, there is about 2-4 years of post-graduate training to specialize in family medicine. The training is a residency program that is often divided into training in in-patient and out-patient settings. Once completing specialist training, family physicians provide preventative and corrective care, and are able to treat various illnesses. Family doctors often do not need to provide a referral for patients to see other specialists. Slovakia and Moldova, however, do use a gate-keeping system, and a referral is needed. Majority of the population has access to family physicians, as the health care system in Eastern Europe requires mandatory health insurance plans that cover the health care cost of primary care.
The Balkans
In the Balkans, many of the first post-graduate programs in family medicine were established in the 1990s. Croatia and Turkey had established family medicine training programs earlier, in the 1980s. Kosovo, Malta, and Montenegro had established family medicine programs later, in the 2000s. Family medicine societies exist in the Balkans, and family medicine is recognized as a part of primary care. In order to specialize in family medicine, one must enter a medical school program after completing high school. Medical school is 6 years in the Balkans, with the exception of the medical school in Malta that is 5 years, and during this time family medicine is taught as part of the curriculum. Once graduating from medical school, there is about 2-4 years of post-graduate training to specialize in family medicine. The training is a residency program that is often divided into training in in-patient and out-patient settings. In Italy and Slovenia, practicing family physicians must complete continuing medical education in order to keep their license as a family physician. Little data has been collected on continuing medical education in other countries in the Balkans region. Family physicians often act as gate-keepers in this region, and patients do need to receive a referral from a family physician in order to see a specialist. Majority of the population has access to family physicians, as the health care system in the Balkans is public, and requires mandatory health insurance plans that cover the health care cost of primary care. Patients may also see a private family physician if they wish.