General Practitioner / Family Doctor

What this life looks like

You are the doctor who knows your patients by name. As a General Practitioner you are the first point of contact for anyone who is unwell, worried, or trying to stay healthy. You do not specialise in one part of the body, you specialise in the whole person. You diagnose everything from malaria to diabetes to mental health conditions, you refer patients to specialists when they need them, and you follow up to make sure they are getting better. In Africa this role carries extraordinary weight. The continent has one of the most severe shortages of doctors in the world, with some countries having fewer than one doctor per 10,000 people. A GP working in a Nigerian town, a Kenyan rural health post, or a Ghanaian community clinic is not just treating illness, she is often the difference between a community that thrives and one that does not. Every year you spend in this career, you will change lives that would otherwise have had no access to care at all.

What she actually does

A General Practitioner diagnoses and treats a wide range of illnesses and conditions, prescribes medication, orders and interprets tests, provides preventive care such as vaccinations and health screenings, manages long-term conditions like hypertension and diabetes, counsels patients on lifestyle and mental health, and refers patients to hospital specialists when needed. In Africa GPs often serve as the backbone of the entire health system, especially in rural and underserved areas where specialist doctors are not available.

Where you can work

Why it matters in Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa carries 25 percent of the world's disease burden but has only 3 percent of the world's health workers. A shortage of GPs means millions of people go without basic diagnosis and treatment for entirely preventable and curable conditions. Malaria, tuberculosis, hypertension, diabetes, and childhood infections kill people across Africa who could be saved with basic primary care. Every GP who chooses to practise in an underserved African community is addressing one of the most urgent human needs on the continent.

Your pathway in

At secondary school focus on Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Mathematics. These are required for medical school admission across most African universities. A strong performance in these subjects, particularly in WAEC or equivalent examinations, is your entry ticket. University requires a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degree, known as MBBS or MBChB depending on the country. This typically takes five to six years in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, and other African countries. After graduating you complete a one to two year housemanship or internship in a hospital. You then register with your national medical council – the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, the Health Professions Council of South Africa, or equivalent body in your country. Many GPs also complete a postgraduate fellowship in Family Medicine through the West African College of Physicians or equivalent body to deepen their skills.

Skills you will need

Technical: Clinical diagnosis, patient examination, pharmacology and prescribing, interpreting laboratory results and medical imaging, managing chronic disease, performing minor procedures such as wound suturing and IV placement. Human: Deep empathy and the ability to listen, clear communication with patients from all backgrounds, calm decision-making under pressure, the ability to manage uncertainty, cultural sensitivity, and a genuine commitment to community health. Digital tools: Electronic health record systems, telemedicine platforms which are growing rapidly across Africa, diagnostic apps, and medical reference tools.

A woman in this field

Take your first step

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