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Advancing
Family Medicine in the Middle East:
A Comprehensive Analysis of Development,
Challenges, and International Partnerships
Faisal A Alnaser
1; Nagwa N Hegazy 2; Taghreed M
Farahat 3; Abdulaziz Al-Mahrezi
4; Samar Almoazen 5; Shaymaa M Ahmed
6: Oraib H Alsmadi 7; Mohammad alazemi
8; Razan Abyad 9, Abdulrazak Abyad
10
1. MBBS, FPC, MICGP, FRCGP, FFPH,
FAM (USA), PhD, Honorary Faculty;
Department of Primary Care &
Public Health Imperial College,
London; President-Elect WONCA Emr
(World Congress for Family Physicians);
President, Bahrain Family Physician
Association, Chairman; Home Health
Care Centre, Chairman; American
Foot & Ankle Centre,
Vice President, International Society
for the History of Islamic Medicine
(ISHIM), WHO EMRO Temp Advisor,
WONCA EMR Regional Adviser, Bahrain
Representative in Anti-Smoking International
Alliances
2. MD, Professor of Family Medicine
Departments of Family Medicine;
Faculty of Medicine, Menoufia University
3. MD, Professor of Community &
Family Medicine, Departments of
Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine,
Menoufia University
4. MD, Abdulaziz Al-Mahrezi, Director
General of Sultan Qaboos University
Hospital, University Medical City,
Sultanate of Oman
5. MSc, MD , Professor of Family
Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, ALSHAM
Private University, Syria. Chairperson
of Syrian Association of Family
Medicine SAFM, Head of Examination
Committee of Syrian Board Council
of Family Medicine
6. FABHS, FM, D.F.M, Member of Iraqi
Family Medicine Society
7. MD, Family Medicine Consultant,
President of Jordan Society of Family
Medicine
8. MBBS, MD, MRCGP , Director of
Public Relations and Health Media,
Director of South Sulaibiya PHC,
President of Kuwait Association
of Family Medicine, President of
Gulf Association of Family Medicine,
MSc leadership and organizational
development-RCSI
9. Razan Abyad, Bsc, MSc International
Health, General Manager, Abyad Medical
Center, Lebanon
10. MD, MPH, MBA, DBA, AGSF, Consultant
Internal and Geriatric Medicine,
Dar Al Shifa Hospital, Kuwait
Chairman, Middle-East Academy for
Medicine of Aging. President, Middle
East & North Africa Association
on Aging & Alzheimer’s,
Editor, Middle-East Journal of Family
Medicine www.mejfm.com, Editor,
Middle-East Journal of Age &
Aging www.me-jaa.com, Editor, Middle-East
Journal of Nursing www.me-jn.com
Correspondence:
Dr Abdulrazak Abyad, Consultant
Internal and Geriatric Medicine,
Dar Al Shifa Hospital, Kuwait
Chairman, Middle-East Academy for
Medicine of Aging.
President, Middle East & North
Africa Association on Aging &
Alzheimer’s
Editor, Middle-East Journal of Family
Medicine www.mejfm.com
Editor, Middle-East Journal of Age
& Aging www.me-jaa.com
Editor, Middle-East Journal of Nursing
www.me-jn.com
Email:
aabyad@cyberia.net.lb
Received: October 2025. Accepted:
November 2025; Published: November/December
2025.Citation: Faisal A Alnaser
et al. Advancing Family Medicine
in the Middle East: A Comprehensive
Analysis of Development, Challenges,
and International Partnerships.
World Family Medicine. November/December
2025; 23(8): 6 - 15. DOI: 10.5742/MEWFM.2025.805257950
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Abstract
Family medicine has become
essential to the healthcare
systems across the Middle
East, providing comprehensive,
continuous care and addressing
a broad range of health issues.
This paper explores the historical
evolution, challenges, advocacy
efforts, and impact of family
medicine in several Middle
Eastern countries, namely
Lebanon, Bahrain, Egypt, Oman,
Jordan, Syria, Kuwait, and
Iraq. By examining these diverse
national experiences, we assess
how family medicine has influenced
population health, navigated
barriers, and fostered international
collaborations. By analyzing
the experiences of these countries,
we identify successful efforts,
ongoing challenges, and international
collaborations that can strengthen
the field of family medicine
across the region.
Keywords:
Family medicine, healthcare
systems, comprehensive anslysis,
development, challenges, international
partnerships, Middle East
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