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Access to care: the general practitioner
This sheet explains the role of the general practitioner and of the family doctor (médecin traitant). It also presents the health pathway.
Key points of the sheet
- The general practitioner is trained to provide first-line care: prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment, guidance and health education.
- He treats patients of any age. He deals with common or chronic problems.
- The general practitioner becomes the family doctor (médecin traitant) when the patient formally declares him. He then provides medical follow-up and coordinates care.
- The family doctor follows the patient regularly. You consult him first, and if needed he puts you in contact with other health professionals.
- He knows and manages your medical file. He keeps exam results, diagnoses and treatments up to date.
- He provides personalised prevention. He follows vaccination, can help you stop smoking and gives health advice.
- For a long-term illness, he draws up the care protocol. He builds it together with the other doctors who follow the illness.
- To make an appointment, call your family doctor's practice. You can also book online on your doctor's platform, for example Doctolib or Maiia.
Words to know
- general practitioner (médecin généraliste)
- He is a doctor who provides first-line care for patients of any age.
- family doctor (médecin traitant)
- He is the general practitioner declared by the patient to follow him and coordinate his care.
- first-line care (soins de premier recours)
- They are prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment, guidance and health education.
- coordinated care pathway (parcours de soins coordonnés)
- The family doctor guides you in this pathway towards other health professionals if needed.
- medical file (dossier médical)
- It gathers exam results, diagnoses and treatments; the family doctor keeps it up to date.
- care protocol (protocole de soins)
- The family doctor draws it up for a patient with a long-term illness.
Test yourself: 3 questions
Which patients does the general practitioner treat?
In French, the language of the exam: Quels patients le médecin généraliste prend-il en charge ?
The general practitioner treats patients of any age.
When does a general practitioner become a family doctor (médecin traitant)?
In French, the language of the exam: Quand un médecin généraliste devient-il médecin traitant ?
The general practitioner becomes the family doctor when the patient declares him.
Who draws up the care protocol for a long-term illness?
In French, the language of the exam: Qui établit le protocole de soins pour une affection de longue durée ?
The family doctor draws up the care protocol, with the other doctors who follow the illness.
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Questions on the ministry's list that rest on this sheet
- For a non-urgent health problem, who should you see first?
- What is the role of the médecin traitant (regular doctor)?
More in this topic (Health)
- Access to healthcare: the care pathway
- Access to care: on-call doctors and pharmacies
- Access to healthcare: free care centres
Source
Sheet “Accès aux soins : le médecin généraliste” of the French Ministry of the Interior: formation-civique.interieur.gouv.fr. Content published under the Etalab Open Licence 2.0. This page is a plain-language adaptation made by Hexaciv, which is not an official site: if in doubt, the ministry's text is the one that counts.
Ministry sheet read on 23 October 2026, still identical on 25 October 2026.