In the age of Super Specialists — Redefining the role of a ‘Family Doctor’
By Col (Dr.) Mohan Kubendra, President — AFPI Karnataka
The ‘Family Doctor’ is not a new concept in India. Family doctors are health managers and guides for the entire family. Many families relied on their family physician for all care and counselling needs.
Medicine has seen vital division over the past few decades. Further division into sub-specialities has made general practice sparse. With spectacular advances by specialists with single expertise and access to advanced equipment. The role of a family doctor has changed today, as the need for a health mentor has increased!
Family medicine is a person-centred speciality, which enables a continuous caring relationship. This goes a long way in treating a family in particular and community in general. “Person-centric” is the core principle of Family Medicine, it promotes well-being through a holistic approach.
WONCA has declared May 19th as the World Family Doctors day. This is to remind us of the central role and contribution of family doctors in health care systems around the world. It also sheds light on the importance of the long-term patient-physician relationship. India faces an increasing risk of lifestyle diseases, which need the care and guidance of a healthcare mentor — Family Doctor. To achieve this goal Academy Of Family Physicians of India aims to revive the concept of Family Doctor.
In light of growing negative perception about the medical profession, it is important to restore patient confidence in the noble profession. There’s a dire need for the young medical graduates to opt for and contribute to the community by choosing family medicine as a specialty. The family medicine fraternity has a great role to play in redefining and preparing the next generation of Family physicians. To enable better population-level health awareness and outcomes.
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