Family medicine – caring for you for the whole of your life. A Lost and Found Art

Neha. N DNB Resident, Kauvery Hospital, Trichy, Cantonment

World Family Doctor Day, held every year on May 19, is a day to highlight the role and contributions of family doctors in health care systems around the world. The comprehensiveness of family medicine makes it the ideal specialty for a career that includes global health.

The first World Family Doctor Day was declared by the World Organization of Family Doctors (WONCA) in 2010. It has gained momentum globally each year, with activities, meetings, and celebrations planned to:

  • Bring attention to the contributions of family doctors globally;
  • Recognize family doctors;
  • Increase the morale of family doctors, and;
  • Highlight important issues relating to family doctors and the work they perform in supporting health care for people around the world.

History of Family Medicine

A family physician, however, is a primary care physician who has completed specialist training in the discipline of Family Medicine

Family Medicine is an independent and distinct specialty in developed countries such as USA, UK, Australia, and Canada since 1960s.

Family Medicine is a recognized speciality since 1983 by an amendment in Medical Council of India Act (MCI Act).

The National Board of Examinations (1975) is a unique body which conducts family medicine residency programmes at the teaching hospitals that it accredits. On successful completion of a three-year residency, candidates are awarded Diplomat of National Board (Family Medicine).

First MD course in family medicine was launched at Govt. Medical College, Kozhikode in 2011.

In 2019 The National Medical Council (NMC) promoted MD & DNB Family Medicine courses at various medical colleges and private hospitals. Currently there are more than 100 seats /year throughout India

Family Physician Day

The World family doctor’s day is celebrated across the universe on different dates. In India, it is celebrated on 19th May.

It started way back in 1933, in Georgia – the first ever family doctor’s day to be celebrated. This event was basically the brainchild of Eudora Brown Almond, the wife of a famous physician Dr. Charles B. Almond. She decided to set aside this day in order to honour doctors and physicians across the world for all their hard work to bring about medical excellence to our society. Her plan was then recognised by the Georgia State Medical Alliance and was then officially implemented for the first time as a part of important national days. It was eventually followed also in India

The Art

Family medicine is evidence-based, patient-centered, community-focused, and problem-focused. A family medicine physician also improves the economics of healthcare by treating the most basic ailments of diseases across most specialties and then referring them to appropriate specialists through triage and initial treatment. The scope of family medicine is broad and includes care at various stages such as pregnancy, newborn care, child care, treatment of acute and chronic adult life diseases, and end-of-life care.

The Past

General practice is the oldest form of medical discipline in the world. In the beginning, all medical practitioners used to be general practitioners only. Medical graduate not getting into any specialty training after MBBS traditionally used to proceed with general practice vocation. General practitioners often accumulate a wealth of knowledge through decades of practice. However, most often they do not have the opportunity for additional skill development and maintain competency with ever evolving and exploding science of today.

The Future – The Re-emerging speciality

In the era of super specialist practice, family physicians are more relevant than ever. Today, there is no one doctor who is responsible for the whole person. People often find it frustrating when their small health-related questions are not answered by the treating doctors, as they have to visit multiple health care providers. This is more difficult for older persons with multiple health issues. People want solutions which only family physicians can provide, who are capable of generalist care.

The entire health system is internally unstable for India. Even rich countries find it difficult to cope up with ever increasing the cost of tertiary care facilities.

Family physicians can provide quality and cost-effective healthcare. It is a win – win situation for both public and doctors. Family physician’s close contact with society also strengthens the doctor-patient relationship.

References

https://smartmedicalbuyer.com/blogs/smb-blog/world-family-doctors-day-history-and-significance#:~:text=This%20event%20was%20basically%20the,medical%20excellence%20to%20our%20society.

Neha

Neha. N

DNB Resident

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