Docs opine family physicians should be part of healthcare ecosystem

A section of doctors have stressed the importance of family physicians in the healthcare ecosystem, read here to know more.

To deliver holistic treatment and prevent unnecessary burdens on secondary and tertiary hospitals, a group of doctors have stressed the importance of family physicians in the healthcare ecosystem.

They act as a single point of contact for all healthcare needs of a family and prevent unnecessary burdens on secondary and tertiary healthcare systems, underlined members of the Academy of Family Physicians of India (AFPI). The members have called for the inclusion of training as family physicians in the MBBS course, as reported by NDTV.

Dr Raman Kumar, AFPI national president, said: “A family physician is not only a family doctor but acts as a guide, who helps a family in making informed healthcare decisions. This AFPI foundation day was also declared 'National Family Medicine Day."

AFPI recently celebrated Foundation Day

It celebrated its Foundation Day on September 25. The event was attended by doctors from across India and experts from various fields conducted a national consultation on the mandatory inclusion of 'training as family physician' in the MBBS course at all Indian medical colleges in the background of COVID-19.

Dr SK Sarin, Director of Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences, New Delhi, and President, National Academy of Medical Sciences (NAMS), delivered the foundation day oration. “Family physicians play a pivotal role in the prevention of diseases and their complications,” he said.

“Training MBBS doctors as family physicians is of paramount importance. There should be a structured course during MBBS as all doctors need not become hospital-based specialists," said Director of Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) Alok Saxena. He emphasised its revival and the integration of family physicians with the health system.

Prof Surekha Kishore, Director of AIIMS Gorakhpur, was the Chief Guest of the programme and she assured to raise the issue of family physicians and their training with the National Medical Commission as its member.

Read more:

• Exodus of medical students is due to multiple factors, says report
• Karnataka's medical education to get costlier by 10%