This weekend, general practitioners from around the world will participate in a two-day international conference on family medicine in the city. At a time when lifestyle diseases are becoming increasingly common, the family physician, who can be a guide and adviser to patients and their families, seems set of make a comeback.
A few years ago, the city hosted a similar meeting, introducing to young doctors the traditions of yore, when the family doctor was a valued member of the family. This time, The Indian Medical Association and the College of General Practitioners are coming together to spread the message. World Organisation of National Colleges, Academies (WONCA) and Academic Associations of General Practitioners and Family Practitioners and World Organisation of Family Doctors and the IMA, are hosting the event in Chennai.
K.M. Abul Hasan, organising secretary, WONCA, South Asian region, says there are around 10,000 general practitioners in the country who have taken up family medicine. “We are going to launch a campaign to re-establish the practice of family medicine in India,” he says.
Doctors say that while patients accessing information about medical conditions through various media has its advantages, it also could lead to an overload of information that can cause problems for them. This is especially true in the case of diabetics, says Dr. Abul.
“In India, where a large number of families live below poverty line, the need for a family physician is especially felt. Primary care erodes a patient’s savings significantly, sometimes without the benefit of quality care. A family physician can provide cost-effective treatment. Family medicine has a strong presence in the U.K, U.S.A, Malaysia, Singapore, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. “We need to promote the idea of going to the family physician. We have a long way to go, but holding conferences would help” Dr. Abul says.
Giving a simple example, Dr. Abul cites a condition called ‘low sugar,’ for which a patient is often taken to a specialist. A family doctor would, instead, treat the condition, customising the drug to suit the individual’s health as she is aware of the patient’s condition. With proper treatment, the condition can be reversed.
