Working as a family physician in Canada and Portugal: How different is it?

BACKGROUND: The work of a family physician is quite different in each country, and if we consider different continents, differences are even more remarkable. Social and cultural contexts justify a particular organization, not only of the health-care system but also its providers as well. OBJECTIVES: By analyzing different health-care systems, new ideas may come about which may trigger positive changes in a health-care service to diminish healthcare disparities. METHODS: Description and comparison of the Primary Healthcare Service in Canada and Portugal. RESULTS: Although both health-care systems are mainly public, organizational differences can be found that condition primary healthcare access. CONCLUSION: Exchanges in other health-care systems contribute for an active knowledge exchange that prompts participants to analyze options on how to improve healthcare access to citizens. This ultimately, leads to the development of primary care, the pillar of a well-functioning health-care system.