Family Medicine is the medical specialty that provides continuing and comprehensive health care for the individual and the family. It is the specialty in breadth that integrates the biologic, clinical, and behavioral sciences. The scope of Family Medicine encompasses all ages, both sexes, each organ system, and every disease entity. The specialty of family Medicine is the result of the evolved and enhanced expression of general medical practice and is defined uniquely within the family context.

The Family physician is a physician who is educated and trained in the discipline of family practice-a broadly encompassing medical specialty. Family physician possess unique attitudes, skills, and knowledge that qualify them to provide continuing and comprehensive medical care, health maintenance, and preventive services to each member of a family , are the best qualified to serve as each patient's advocate use of consultants, health services, and community resources.

WONCA (The World Organization of National Colleges, Academies, and Academic Associations of General Practitioners/Family Physicians)  defines the family doctor in part as;

the physician who is primarily responsible for providing comprehensive health care to every individual seeking medical care and arranging for other health personnel to provide services when necessary. The family physician functions as a generalist who accepts everyone seeking care whereas other health providers limit access to their services on the basis of age, sex and/or diagnosis (WONCA, 1991).