What is the difference between a GP and a physician in South Africa?

Asked by: Delta Berge  |  Last update: November 30, 2025
Score: 4.3/5 (4 votes)

In Africa, the term 'family physician' is used, as a GP in Africa is most of the time a 'medical officer' working in private or public practice without any further training after the undergraduate medical curriculum.

Is a GP the same as a physician?

A General Practitioner treats basic issues from patients of all ages. An Internal Medicine Specialist will try and keep more of their patients as adults. A Physician applies to any medical doctor.

What is a GP in South Africa?

Often referred to as a family doctor, other than in the case of a serious accident or an emergency, the traditional role of the general practitioner, or GP, is to act as the first point of contact for anyone who may be experiencing a bout of ill health.

Is a doctor higher than a physician?

The easiest way to put it is that all physicians are doctors, but not all doctors are physicians. The education between the two is vastly different, as physicians must complete residency training, pass board exams, and obtain a license in their field, on top of receiving their doctorate.

What is the difference between a general practitioner and an attending physician?

The top three skills for a general practitioner include patients, diagnosis and internal medicine. The most important skills for an attending physician are patients, primary care, and surgery.

Difference Between GP and Physician

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Should I see a family doctor or general practitioner?

Family medicine providers offer care to patients of all ages throughout their lives. They offer care to multiple generations at the same time. A general practitioner also sees patients of all ages but for milder diseases, such as the common cold, affecting the entire body.

Does GP mean general physician?

General practitioners are primary care health care professionals. They are the doctors you see for wellness checkups and to help you with most of your health care needs. Family doctors and internists can also be general practitioners.

Why are some doctors called physicians?

In medicine, terms that refer to those we seek out when we are sick changed little until very recently. The term "physician" has been around since the days of Aristotle, and derives from "physik," an ancient Greek word for "nature." Physicians were those engaged in the study of the natural world.

Can a physician perform surgery?

When it comes to surgeries, many people may think of specialists like neurosurgeons or plastic surgeons. However, family physicians are also trained to perform certain types of surgeries. These can include minor procedures like removing moles or cysts, suturing wounds, or even performing biopsies.

What is the highest ranking doctor called?

Attending doctors are the highest in level of seniority. They are fully licensed and can practice independently. American Medical Association.

How much does a GP cost in South Africa?

How much does a physical GP doctor consultation cost in South Africa? Seeing a GP doctor in person can cost about R500 or more per consultation.

Is a GP a proper doctor?

General practitioners (GPs) are doctors who provide medical services to people in their local community.

Are practitioner and physician the same?

While doctors and nurse practitioners have many similarities, there are some notable differences. The biggest difference between the two is the amount of time spent on training. While NPs have more training than a registered nurse, they receive less training than a doctor. They also are licensed differently.

Is a GP your local doctor?

Local doctors are also known as general practitioners, GPs. They look after the health of people in their community and deal with patients' different health problems.

What are the different types of GP?

A salaried GP work as an employee of the practice. A locum GP is someone who provides cover in the place of another GP. Locums are generally self-employed and are sometimes referred to as freelance GPs. They have complete control and flexibility over when and where they work.

What is the highest paid doctor that does not do surgery?

Interventional Cardiology and Interventional Radiology are likely the highest paid non-surgical specialty.

What is the difference between a doctor and a physician?

Physicians are trained specifically to practice medicine, often working in clinical settings or hospitals. Key distinctions to remember: Doctors: Can refer to PhDs, dentists, veterinarians or other doctorate holders. Physicians: Focused on patient care, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of illnesses.

What are the top 5 major surgeries?

The 10 Most Common Surgeries in the U.S.
  • Joint Replacement. ...
  • Circumcision. ...
  • Broken Bone Repair. ...
  • Angioplasty and Atherectomy. ...
  • Stent Procedure. ...
  • Hysterectomy. ...
  • Gallbladder Removal (Cholecystectomy) ...
  • Heart Bypass Surgery (Coronary Artery Bypass Graft)

Can a nurse practitioner with a doctorate be called a doctor?

That means veterinarians, dentists, pharmacists, physical therapists, and nurse practitioners are subject to severe penalties if they truthfully refer to themselves as 'doctor. ' This is true even where the doctor specifies the specific profession in which he or she has obtained his or her doctorate degree.

Who is called a physician?

A physician, medical practitioner (British English), medical doctor, or simply doctor is a health professional who practices medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring health through the study, diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of disease, injury, and other physical and mental impairments.

Is PhD higher than MD?

A Ph. D. is the highest degree you can get in any subject, so it carries prestige. With an M.D., you can operate as a medical doctor and help patients, which many people respect. It can be very difficult to gain admission into medical school, which can make earning an M.D. more difficult than earning a Ph.

Is my GP a physician?

A general practitioner (GP) or family physician is a doctor who is a consultant in general practice. GPs have distinct expertise and experience in providing whole person medical care, whilst managing the complexity, uncertainty and risk associated with the continuous care they provide.

What is a GP called in Canada?

Physicians who have completed this specialized training often prefer the term family physician. Those who did their training prior to the family medicine residency program being introduced, or who were trained in another country, may call themselves general practitioners (GPs).

What type of doctor is best for primary care?

You should consider a family physician or internal medicine specialist (internist) to serve as your PCP to provide overall management of your health care. You also may want to choose an obstetrician/gynecologist if you are a woman, or a pediatrician for your children.

Is a GP better than a doctor?

Specialists focus on a specific area of medicine and receive additional training in that field, allowing them to provide more specialized care. However, GPs offer broader, general healthcare and are key to managing various health issues. Both roles are essential, depending on the patient's needs.