Family medicine is the discipline on which family practice is based. It describes the body of knowledge, skills and attitudes that are necessary for family physicians to deal with problems brought to them by patients and relatives. Family physician should have the skill to assess the illness of his patients and should adopt a holistic approach in the management of his patients. The roles of the family physician describe the different types of care they provide eg, first contact care, personalised care and family care, continuity of care, comprehensive care, preventive care, co-ordination of care.