and where in Europe?

At risk of stating the obvious, there are pros and cons under both systems. In Thailand, especially if you have private insurance or can afford private hospitals, it is of course significantly easier to be seen immediately by a specialist and to receive care quickly, comfortably, and relatively affordable compared to the US.

The prevalence of specialists however means that regardless of how minor a health concern you might have, if you walk into a private hospital, you will probably be told to go see a specialist i.e. directly to an ENT if you have any form of nasal congestion. A GP who otherwise knows your full health history would ideally recall that this is an issue you always face during smog season and that it is probably just an allergic reaction. An ENT who is meeting you for the first time is more likely to treat you immediately for sinusitis—and, for some reason, Thai medical training means immediately prescribing antibiotics even if the cause might be viral (or, you know, allergies.)

This is a problem of abundance with private healthcare in Bangkok. If you are upcountry in a more rural area, there is a higher chance that you will be seen by the town's only doctor who is a new resident serving their time to repay for the publicly subsidized medical school tuition before starting specialist training. Very off topic, but this is in fact quite a Thai soap opera trope: a young handsome doctor posted somewhere upcountry to the chagrin of his wealthy family who could have pulled strings for a cushy Bangkok residency (bonus points if this is an aristocratic family) who then falls in love with a local girl and refuses to return to Bangkok after his residency is over. In Bangkok of course waiting for him is an arranged marriage to an heiress of another powerful family... you can continue watching on Channel 3.

EU - where is your Europe?

Many European countries use "family doctor" or similar terms (like médecin de famille, Familienarzt) alongside or instead of "GP," with nations like Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Belgium, Portugal, Ireland, Greece, Croatia, Serbia, and Slovenia commonly referring to primary care physicians as family doctors or equivalent, though terminology can vary, with some countries emphasizing the specialist "GP" and others focusing on primary care's "family" aspect.
Examples by Country/Region:

• Germany & France: While "GP" is understood, they often use terms like Hausarzt (Germany) or médecin généraliste/de famille (France).
• Spain & Italy: Utilize similar terms, focusing on general or family medicine.
• UK & Ireland: Primarily use "GP," but the role is essentially that of a family doctor.
• Netherlands & Belgium: Also use family doctor concepts within their systems.
• Eastern Europe (e.g., Croatia, Slovenia): Often refer to family medicine specialists, showing a clear focus on the family doctor role.

Key takeaway: The concept of a dedicated primary care physician acting as a first point of contact (a family doctor) is common across Europe, even if the exact name varies from country to country, reflecting different healthcare system structures.

but usually NOT as a physician in a large hospital; rather working independent or in a clinic

It doesn't change the fact that you are wrong and we are right. We were talking about doctor's profession not about size of the practice.

wrong and right? :) I was just not familiar with the term and that's why I asked... but if you think that those threads are about right and wrong, then I’ll let you take the lead in being the know‑it‑all... :rolleyes: