The Academy of Family Physicians of India (AFPI), a leading organisation in India promoting training and education of primary care physicians, is organising a two-day national conference on Family Medicine and Primary Care (FMPC) 2013 on April 20 and 21 at the India International Centre, New Delhi.
 
This conference is conducted in association with the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) and National Health Systems Resource Centre (NHSRC).

The event is based on theme 'Preparing Multi-skilled and Competent Primary Care Physicians: Consensus on Family Medicine in India’.

Dr Santanu Chattopadhyay, founder and CEO, NationWide Primary Healthcare Services, and a key note speaker at the 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.”

This symposia will bring 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 ministry of health and family welfare (MoHFW) Government of India, on development of Family Medicine Programme to ensure availability of skilled doctors at Community Health Centre (CHC) level.

Bangalore-based, NationWide Primary Healthcare Services Pvt. Ltd (NationWide), which is 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 (AIIMS), Jodhpur; Calicut Medical College; and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

According to Dr Raman Kumar, chairperson, Organising Committee FMPC 2013 and president, AFPI, “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.”

Apart from CME and scientific seminars sessions, the conference will have family medicine practitioners and trainees, officials from the NRHM, NHSRC and MoHFW, and other stakeholders from the private health sector, to discuss and deliberate over topics, like 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 among others.