A primary healthcare organisation, Pathfinder Health India founded by an alliance of social entrepreneurs from the United Kingdom and India, has started one year post graduation diploma in Family Medicine for clinicians with a four day workshop in primary healthcare in New Delhi.

The one year PG Diploma in Family Medicine is taught by doctors affiliated to University of Westminster in collaboration with Rila Institute of Health Sciences, London, an independent International provider of Postgraduate Medical Education and accredited by Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP), covers a syllabus designed to equip the doctor with both knowledge and practical skills for delivering care in a community setting.

The series of workshops, the training laid the foundation for primary healthcare by covering modules on medical statistics, how to read a scientific paper, determinants of health and communicable diseases and disease surveillance. Topics focused on clinical areas include Urology (urinary tract infections, renal stones, prostate disease, urinary incontinence and chronic renal disease), Elderly Care (falls, immobility, malnutrition, osteoporosis and old age psychiatry) and Palliative and Terminal care of patients (breaking bad news, pain management). Further workshops will be convened during the 12 months and cover other key topics for primary care.

Dr Niti Pall, chairman and managing director, Pathfinder Health India, said “India needs to re-  invent the GP model wherein the patients can access affordable primary healthcare without the need to visit specialists at the onset or when it’s too late. This PG Diploma not only fills the gap in the current GP market in India but also falls in line with Union Health Ministry and the Medical Council of India’s recent introduction of a new three-year postgraduate course – MD (family medicine).”

Dr Kalpa Sundar, Professor Ram Dhillon, Dr Edward Stannard & Dr Madhav Rao will be the primary trainers for the workshop and sit on consultation for the workshop. They will be conducting skills assessment, attitudinal assessment and consultation skills along with two workshops on mental health and muscular skeletal medicine.

The overall curriculum of the PG course includes modules like Chronic Disease Management, Maternal and Child Health, Mental Health, Urgent and Emergency presentations, Tropical Medicine, Public health and Health Promotion amongst many others. The doctors will also be expected to attain and demonstrate the acquisition of key practical skills necessary in primary care e.g. use of auriscope and ophthalmoscope, basic respiratory tests, venepuncture, recording and interpretation of the electrocardiogram etc.

The clinical trainers in the PG diploma are a combination of senior general practitioners and primary care physicians and hospital specialists. All the trainers have extensive experience in teaching and mentoring and most of the UK Family Doctors has already involved in education. Each candidate is allocated a specific mentor/clinical supervisor who will oversee the “Practical Skills” aspects of the training, which is an essential and core component of the programme.

Pathfinder Health India aims to establish an effective health model in India that delivers high-quality, low-cost primary healthcare based on international standards. The company is working with partners and training institutions and plans to set up a strong workforce of GPs, nurses and healthcare assistants for its health centres.