This specialty training program is designed to increase the number of well-trained family  
medicine physicians in Lesotho who have the knowledge, skills, and commitment needed to  
meet the health care needs of the Basotho people. Training involves registrars working directly  
with practicing faculty and emphasizes the development of the full spectrum of clinical skills and  
knowledge to manage very ill in-patients of all ages. Furthermore, knowledge of public health  
essentials, such as applied epidemiology and basic biostatistics are taught so as to facilitate an  
integrated view of family medicine and community health. The combination of high quality  
clinical, management, and public health training will provide the necessary skills and knowledge  
needed for graduates of this program to serve as leaders in Lesotho’s district hospitals as well as  
to equip registrars to successfully manage community-oriented practice in a decentralized health  
care system.

- Maternity, Obstetrics, Gynecology – including management of labor, emergency and operative obstetrics, and limited operative gynecology.
- Pediatrics – including neonatal care, well child care, and the management of acutely ill or injured children, with limited surgery.
- Adult and geriatric medicine – the full range of ambulatory care and in-patient management of acute illnesses and chronic disease exacerbations which require in-patient care.
- HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis – ambulatory and in-patient management of HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis serving all age groups.
- Surgery – definitive management of minor and moderately severe trauma, including burns, common orthopedic and general surgical procedures such as the management of compound fractures of the extremities, puncture wounds to the abdomen, acute bowel obstructions and appendectomies.
- Mental Health – integration of ambulatory management of mental illness into general primary care and management of acute conditions requiring hospitalization.
- Public health and district health management skills- including practical approaches to prevention, applied epidemiology, program evaluation and related statistical methods. Continuous Quality Management and District Health Management are emphasized.
- Community Orientated Primary Care- extensive rotations in selected Community Health Centres with exposure to health care at the community level. In order to assure that physicians in FMSTP training understand and are committed to community-orientated care, each registrar will be assigned a health center in her /his district and work as a vital team member at community sites throughout the training.
- Personal qualities and micro-skills development – excellence in patient-doctor relationship, ability to be a consultant and teacher for patient, family, community and staff; ability to be team member with leadership skills.
- Operational Health Systems Research – Registrars have the opportunity to work consistently on a health research project with focus on decentralization in health.