The term general practitioner or GP is common in the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom and several Commonwealth countries. In these countries the word physician is largely reserved for certain other types of medical specialists, notably in internal medicine. While in these countries, the term GP has a clearly-defined meaning, in North America the term has become somewhat ambiguous, and is not necessarily synonymous with the term "family doctor", as described below.

The basic medical degrees in India are MBBS, BAMS, BSMS, BUMS, and BHMS. These are four and a half years long courses, followed by a year of compulsory rotatory internship. The internship requires the candidate to work in all the departments for a stipulated period of time to undergo hands on training in managing patients.

The MBBS, BAMS, BSMS, BUMS and BHMS courses are conducted at accredited medical colleges. While the MCI of India regulates MBBS education, the CCIM regulates the study of Integrated medicine and the CCH, the Homeopathy medical education.

The registration of doctors is managed usually by state medical councils. A provisional registration is granted after the four and a half years of MBBS/BAMS/BUMS/BHMS course. A permanent registration as a Registered Medical Practitioner is granted only after satisfactory completion of the compulsory internship. minimum training of 7 years

After MBBS/BAMS/BSMS/BUMS/BHMS and permanent registration, a medical doctor in India is considered a General Practitioner.

An MBBS medical graduate can appear for pre-postgraduate examinations (Pre-PG) at national, state or institute levels and gain entry to a three-year MD (Doctor of Medicine) or MS (Master of Surgery) course or a two-year Diploma course in a number of specialties, including Internal Medicine (General Medicine). One can also opt to join the National Board of Examinations (NBE)'s three-year residency programme in various specialties, including Family Medicine. On successful completion of the course, one is awarded the Diplomate of National Board (DNB) degree and title. After BAMS, BSMS, BUMS and BHMS, a medical graduate can do postgraduate degrees of MD/MS in Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani, and MD in Homeopathy.

All general practitioners in India are protesting Union Heath Ministry's proposal to start new 3.5yrs. BRMS course for rural area.

In Pakistan, 5 years of MBBS is followed by one year of internship in different specialties. Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) then confers permanent registration, after which the candidate may choose to practice as a GP or opt for specialty training.

The first Family Medicine Training programme was approved by the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Pakistan (CPSP) in 1992 and initiated in 1993 by the Family Medicine Division of the Department of Community Health Sciences, Aga Khan University, Pakistan. In 1997, the Royal College of General Practitioners, UK, unconditionally approved the Programme for the MRCGP Examination and additionally declared it as amongst the top 10 programmes in UK.

Family Medicine residency training programme of Ziauddin University is approved for Fellowship in Family Medicine.