Object and Responsibilities of the College
The RCGP's object and responsibilities, as
defined by the Royal Charter of the College.
Object
"To encourage, foster and maintain the highest possible
standards in general medical practice and for that purpose to take
or join with others in taking any steps consistent with the
charitable nature of that object which may assist towards the
same."
Responsibilities
- Under the Royal Charter the
College is entitled to:
- Establish and maintain an academic and educational headquarters
for general medical practitioners.
- Establish and maintain regional faculties or other
organizations, either within or without the structure of the
College, designed to further the object for which the College is
established.
- Encourage persons of ability to enter the medical profession
and become general medical practitioners.
- Undertake or assist others in undertaking training courses or
other educational activities designed to enhance the medical
knowledge and skill of general medical practitioners.
- Grant postgraduate diplomas or other certificates of
proficiency or standard in general medical practice as a whole or
in any subject required to be covered in general medical practice
(whether by examination, thesis or upon outstanding work in or in
connection with general medical practice considered worthy of
special commendation, or upon other grounds which may be considered
to justify such grant); and to establish professorships,
lectureships and to award prizes and scholarships, provided that no
such diploma or certificate or other like award issued by the
College shall contain any statement or expression implying that it
is granted by or under the authority of the government or any
department thereof.
- Encourage the publication by general medical practitioners and
others of research into medical or scientific subjects with a view
to the improvement of general medical practice in any field and to
undertake or assist others in undertaking such research.
- Diffuse information on all matters affecting general medical
practice and establish, print, publish, issue and circulate papers,
journals, magazines, books, periodicals, and other publications and
hold such meetings, conferences, seminars and instructional courses
as may assist the object of the College.
- Co-operate with other bodies in all matters relating to or
connected with the attainment of the object for which the College
is established.
The Royal College of General Practitioners is a registered
charity. Registered charity no. 223106