Welcome to the College of Family Physicians of East, Central and Southern Africa (ECSA-CFP)

We are a professional body dedicated to transforming primary healthcare in the East, Central, and Southern Africa (ECSA) region. The College formally came into existence in June 2024 after receiving approval from the Health Ministers Conference to become a Constituent College of the ECSA College of Health Sciences under the East Central and Southern African Health Community, based in Arusha Tanzania.  Following the example of other medical specialties (College of Surgeons of ECSA, College of Anaesthetists of ECSA, ECSA College of Physicians, etc) ECSA-CFP is setting up a regional FM training programme to be undertaken in designated training institutes in the ECSA region, with a common exam and award of an internationally recognised FM qualification. By so doing, we will be able to share expertise and resources in the region, supported by colleagues in South Africa, the South African College of FPs and PRIMAFAMED. Our goal is to strengthen the health workforce by training Family Physicians (FPs) through high-quality education, research, and advocacy.

Vision: To lead the transformation of primary healthcare in the ECSA region by providing world-class education, training, and research in Family Medicine.

Mission:

  • Increase the availability of specialist Family Physicians through rigorous postgraduate training and assessments.
  • Foster collaboration and expertise sharing among Family Medicine training programs.
  • Improve healthcare outcomes with continuous, comprehensive, and person-centred care.

Our Approach:

We deliver innovative, evidence-based curricula tailored to the region’s healthcare needs, emphasizing critical thinking and lifelong learning. Through partnerships with universities, medical schools, and healthcare institutions, we expand training programs, prioritize workplace-based and distance learning, and ensure high-quality clinical mentorship.

Objectives:

We advance Family Medicine by

  1. Training and assessing Family Physicians to deliver compassionate, holistic care.
  2. Promoting research, quality improvement, and ethical practice.
  3. Standardizing curricula, accrediting training institutions, and fostering collaboration.
  4. Advocating for Family Physicians’ roles in primary care and district hospitals.

Commitment:

By producing clinically competent, compassionate Family Physicians, we aim to improve healthcare for individuals, families, and communities, fostering equitable and person-centred care across the ECSA region.