Construct the China Academic Community of General Practitioners/Family Physicians to Promote the High-quality Development of the General Practice Discipline

Since general practice was introduced to China in the late 1980s, significant phased achievements have been made in its development. The construction of the discipline and the talent training system has gradually improved, the quantity and quality of the talent pool have continuously increased, the structure of the team has been continuously optimized, service models have been continuously innovated, and service levels have steadily improved. A path of development with Chinese characteristics for general practice has emerged. The discipline of general practice in China has undergone profound changes in five aspects: from being neglected to being valued, from being lenient to being strict, from imitation to innovation, from a peripheral to a mainstream discipline, and from fragmentation to systematization. A mature general practice discipline requires four basic elements: unique theory, unique methodology, unique educational and training paradigms, and unique application scenarios. However, the development of the general practice discipline and the speed of talent cultivation in China still cannot meet the rapidly growing health needs of the people. In the face of these new challenges, the solution is to "develop academics, strengthen the discipline; build a brand, enhance quality; establish a platform, and strengthen culture. " By establishing the China Academic Community of General Practitioners/Family Physicians (CACGP), an academic community for general practitioners in China, conducting academic research that is oriented towards China and addresses grassroots health issues with the characteristics of general practice, and achieving shared academics, shared development, shared communication, and shared innovation, we can cultivate high-level talents in the general practice discipline, provide the people with high-quality and efficient general practice services, and promote the high-quality development of the general practice discipline.