Dr Chamira Ranatunga shares his view on why he chose to be a General Practitioner.
Why did you decide to go into general practice?
It gives first hand exposure of patients to the doctors; gives the chance to meet their families; to follow up and have a continuation of care while having a work-life balance; maintaining a professional relationship with other health care providers. Hence I believe general practice is the best field in medicine.
What are you enjoying the most?
The chance to meet different people, to appreciate the challenges involved in the society that we live in, and to treat ‘disease’ with a more holistic approach.
What is your most satisfying moment so far?
When a mother said that she didn’t know why she brought her three-year-old, but the child had requested to come to the doctors to see me.
What’s the scariest or craziest thing that’s happened to you as a GPEP registrar?
Possibly encounters with difficult and demanding patients would be scary moments, but I feel facing the Primex examination was scary (although it was not bad at all when we finished it).
What do you think is the most desirable quality in a GP?
Being friendly.
What excites you most about the future of primary health care in New Zealand?
The trend towards integration of care with secondary health care providers.
Source: The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners
