Doctors in the health system: categories. Historical variants in various countries

Abstract

One of the negative features of many national health care systems is their fragmentation. In this respect, the radical division between the so- called “levels”, that is, between primary care clinics and hospitals, is, in the author´s view, one of the most harmful characteristics. This separation, which also affects the medical profession, has arisen in the course of history and is here described; its discussion might help to correct the resulting distortion of care systems, for the benefit of people´s health and welfare.