International GP exchanges: Opportunities, benefits, and challenges

Abstract

The RCGP and its Junior International Committee have a long history of supporting early career GPs to undertake observational exchanges to experience international primary care systems first-hand. The benefits of international exchanges are wide-ranging and include allowing participants to develop collaborations, learn more about primary healthcare in the host country, reflect on that learning, and bring it back to their own practice. This article discusses the current opportunities for early career GPs and describes some of the existing evidence regarding the educational, personal and professional benefits, as well as challenges these may bring to participants, patients and the wider health system.