First ever National Conference on Family Medicine and Primary Care (FMPC) 2013 was inaugurated today at the India International Centre (New Delhi) by Shri Keshav Desiraju, Secretary (H&FW) Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India in presence of a large number of Indian and international experts in family medicine and primary care including Prof. Michael Kidd President Elect, WONCA (World Organization of Family Doctor), Prof. Srinath Reddy, President, PHFI, Dr Purushotam Lal, Member, Board of Governors, Medical Council of India and Dr T Sundararaman, utive Director, NHSRC National Rural Health Mission MOHFW GOI.

The Academy of Family Physicians of India (AFPI), in association with the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) and National Health Systems Resource Centre (NHSRC), is organizing the conference with the theme Preparing Multi-skilled and Competent Primary Care Physicians: Consensus on Family Medicine in India. Bangalore-headquartered Nation Wide Primary Healthcare Services Pvt. Ltd (NationWide), a pioneering chain of primary care clinics, is principal sponsor and preferred partner for this event. The conference is also supported by international partners “Wonca (the World Organisation of Family Doctors) and The Spice Route, and academic partners – Christian Medical College, Vellore; All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur; Calicut Medical College; and the Indian Council of Medical Research.

Dr Raman Kumar, Chairperson, Organising Committee FMPC 2013 and President, Academy of Family Physicians of India, said, India is moving towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and National Health Mission (NHM). Multi-skilled and competent primary care providers and their knowledge figure prominently in the evolving schemes, themes and initiatives of our healthcare systems. Family Medicine has received attention in several policy documents of the Government of India, including the National Health Policy 2002. Such a conference is the need of the hour as India is moving towards the goal of all-inclusive health, including the poorest of the poor, who cannot afford multi-specialty and super-specialty hospital care.

Dr Santanu Chattopadhyay, Founder & CEO, NationWide Primary Healthcare Services Pvt. Ltd. and a key note speaker at the up-coming conference said, Current healthcare scenario in India is staring at a crisis, as patients face increasing healthcare expenses due to the skewed emphasis on hospitals and super-speciality care. Much of this expense can be avoided if the primary care provision is strengthened, which can only happen when we have a robust system for training and producing more family physicians.

Dr. Raman Kumar said that more than 400 delegates & experts from India and from neighboring countries are participating in the conference with the common objective of developing the discipline of Family Medicine in Nursing.

Prasanth K. S, Convener, National Consultation on Family Medicine Program and Senior Consultant (Public Health Administration) of National Health Systems Resource Centre said The conference is also hosting a national consultation convened by National Health System Resource Centre (NHSR), National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Government of India. During the conference a number of Indian and international experts in family medicine and primary care have been deliberating on the scope of expanding family medicine programmes in India – especially on the critical skills to be ensured at a Community Health centre level.

According to Dr. Raman Kumar a rainbow session is also going to be organized “ where International family physicians of Indian origin is participating. During two-day conference, South Asia Primary Care Research Network (SAPCRN) will organise a half day workshop on research methodology on 21st April. Apart from the scientific/ CME sessions of international quality, the conference is also running several interesting activities based on new concepts. There is a separate session of Spice Route which is a forum for young and future primary care physicians in South Asia region.

Young delegates from India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka is participating in huge number. There is a special session called Youth Leadership Summit for Primary Health Care (YLS- PHC), where selected students and young health care professionals will present their concept notes on how to strengthen primary health care in India.

The conference has brought together Indian and international experts in family medicine and primary care with a common objective to define family medicine in India. The event will also host a National Consultation convened by NRHM, NHSRC and MOHFW Government of India, on development of Family Medicine Program to ensure availability of skilled doctors at Community Health Centre (CHC) level.

Apart from CME and scientific seminars sessions, family medicine practitioners and trainees, officials from the NRHM, NHSRC and MOHFW Government of India, and other stakeholders from the private health sector are discussing on following topics:

· Making Family Medicine a preferred career choice for Indian Medical Graduates- Challenges and Solutions

· Consultation and communication skills required to improve patient satisfaction

· Expanding scope of family medicine in nursing

· Governance and regulatory issues

· Emerging Models in family practice in India

About Academy of Family Physicians of India (AFPI)

Academy of Family Physicians of India (AFPI) is a leading organisation in India promoting training and education of primary care physicians. AFPI is a non-profit organisation registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. AFPI acts as an educational and professional forum for a wide variety of primary care providers and plays a strong advocacy role in the formulation of health policies in the field or primary care in India.

About NationWide Primary Healthcare Services Pvt. Ltd

NationWide Primary Healthcare Services Pvt. Ltd (NationWide) is a pioneering chain of Primary Care clinics that was awarded the Most Innovative Primary Healthcare Services in Bangalore by BIG Brand Research at the Brands Academy Karnataka Service Excellence Awards in 2011. NationWide, through its concept of Bringing back the Family Doctor, aims to revive the age-old family doctor model. The chains primary care clinics focus on bridging the gap between fragmented general practitioner services and highly expensive super-specialist hospital care by creating a single-point of medical care for their patients everyday healthcare needs. For more information, please visit www.nationwidedocs.org

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