All patients should be able to have an agenda of health care, established with the help of a family doctor – the physician that follows us along life, either healthy or ill. This proximity is fundamental, and more than ever now with the COVID-19 pandemic. “With commitment and great dedication, the Luz Saúde Family and General Medicine teams keep determined and engaged with the people that trust in them”, highlights João Sequeira Carlos , the director of the Family and General Medicine Service from Hospital da Luz Lisboa. On this World Family Doctor Day , May 19, we pay tribute to the work of these professionals and the progresses reached in Family and General Medicine and primary healthcare. The motto proposed for this year by the World Organization of Family Doctors (WONCA) is “Building the Future With Family Doctors!” . This theme is, in fact, a goal for all doctors and respective communities: building the future with family doctors is only possible with them working in team with professionals from other specialties, with patients and with access to new technologies. In Portugal, the Portuguese Association of Family and General Medicine complements the idea with the motto “Be a Family Doctor and Be Happy”, having the goal to draw attention to the need of having physicians fully satisfied in their professional activity , in order to effectively guarantee to the whole population access to proximity and quality healthcare, along all stages of life. Hospital da Luz Podcasts – The Family Doctor answers What is the role of the family doctor and how does he develop his work, is the topic of this series of Hospital da Luz Podcasts – The Family Doctor answers . In the first two podcasts, João Sequeira Carlos talks about the role of these specialists in the follow-up of families – regarding, for instance, problems and doubts that arise with age, chronic diseases, women or the elderly health prevention and mental health care. And he explains how his team is integrated in a large hospital such as Hospital da Luz Lisboa. Listen to the Hospital da Luz Podcasts with João Sequeira Carlos Google | iTunes | Spotify
