Message from FM 360 coordinator, Spice Route India

DR KAILAS P

It is my pleasure to extend heartfelt greetings to the readers of the first issue of Spice Route India movement newsletter. The Family Medicine 360° Program is a global exchange program for medical doctors training in Family Medicine/General Practice and junior Family Doctors/General Practitioners (within five years of completing residency training). The Family Medicine 360° Program was formally launched in 2013 during the 20th WONCA World Conference in Prague. Its aim is to promote intercultural exchanges, so as to give doctors an opportunity to learn from each other in different cultural and socio-economic contexts.

The challenges faced at primary health care level varies across the country. Hence, our plan is to encourage exchanges within the city, state and country. The COVID-19 pandemic has regretfully forced us to suspend all the exchanges until further notice. But I see this as an opportunity to develop and publish an exchange schedule as hosts for the international delegates. Spice Route India has representatives from >15 states and UTs of India and they are preparing to start hosting doctors from all over.

I welcome young doctors from across the globe to India as a part of the FM 360 exchange programmes. We assure you a great learning experience through a variety of family practice settings. Hope to assist you in this interesting and inspirational journey. This newsletter aims to create a space for young doctors to express their opinions and views on family practice. Although the newsletter format is limited in the amount of in-depth information it can provide, we will make every effort to describe, the latest advances in field of family medicine, as well as the activities of our committee, including the exchange program updates. Any criticism, opinions and encouragement will be highly appreciated by the editors of the newsletter.

DR KAILAS P
MBBS, DNB (FM), MNAMS, BCCPM, DFID(CMC VELLORE).
FM 360 COORDINATOR, SPICEROUTE INDIA.