Keep primary health care personal!

In the fifties and sixties a rebirth for primary health care (PHC) took place in the United Kingdom and The Netherlands. New scientific journals started: the Journal of the College of GP’s (now the British Journal of General Practice) in the UK and Huisarts en Wetenschap in The Netherlands. In 1966 in both countries reforms took place to reinforce General Practitioners within the health care system. In Holland, 1966 was the start for the development of the world famous GPstandards and for many multidisciplinary health care centres. Also in that year, the first Dutch chair in general practice was inaugurated [1]. In the UK Richard Scott had been appointed to the first GP chair in the world in Edinburgh in 1963. In 1966, after bitter negotiations, the government and the GP political leaders agreed the so-called GP charter. This notably rewarded GPs for improving their practices (previously this had been at their own personal expense), it also included incentives for GPs to practice together in groups and to undertake postgraduate education. A second key UK landmark was the nationwide introduction of three years compulsory vocational training for GPs in 1979.