In Pursuit of A Forgotten warrior during a Pandemic

Dr Rizwan Nazeer M A P

Being free from disease and improving the quality of life is what every individual desires in his lifetime. According to International Diabetes Federation( IDF) data, 70% of 70 million diabetics in India do not know they have a disease. A person with dizziness will be spinning around different specialists and hospitals yet his dizziness may persist or worsen. What is forgotten by patients is that in the quest for a solution to their symptoms, running with their wallet, moving from specialist to specialist, there is a forgotten hero who can help them from this trend of "DOCTOR SHOPPING". COVID-19 Pandemic has made us think of an alternate solution to this problem and probably has made us pursue a warrior who will stand with us not just during this crisis but at all times unmasking the forgotten hero- Family doctor who can also be a friend, philosopher and guide to create a positive impact on the health of the society.

Family medicine specialists are devoted to providing personal, comprehensive and continuing care for the individual in the context of family and community. It is a speciality that is patient centred, evidence based, family focussed and problem oriented emphasizing on health promotion and disease prevention. Family physicians deliver a range of acute, chronic and preventive medical care services across all ages, genders and diseases while being an integral part of decision making process and optimising care. The entry of Family medicine specialists across all health care institutions right from clinics, PHCs to tertiary and quaternary care hospitals has been a sign of transformation in the health system of this country, to deliver the promise of fulfilling the very basic need of every human-Primary care. Utilising secondary or tertiary care service is optional for an individual but utilising primary care service is the right of every individual across all health care institutions. In contrast to the developed countries, in a country like India, Family medicine specialists need to be available in every healthcare institution not just in a PHC . To make primary care accessible to all, there needs to be an increase in the availability of Family medicine postgraduate training programmes in medical colleges, district hospitals, community health centres and job opportunities for such specialists in the same. There is an urgent and growing need to upgrade the standards of existing PHCs and CHCs to improve the utilisation of services across all sections of society. The regional diversity of this country must be met by an intricate combination of standardised programmes and health care policies to suit the local needs of the people. The current pandemic has once again emphasized the need to invest in Family medicine as a career pathway for medical graduates and create employment opportunities for the family doctors in government and private institutions. The dismal public health expenditure with a mere 1.3% of GDP as of 2019-2020 data is not enough to meet the demands of 1.3 billion people.

The "specialist-generalist professional" who has impressive vertical expertise in one area, and horizontal experiences in related ones will be much in demand. The demand for qualified family physicians are increasing and so is the future looking good for young medical graduates aspiring to become wonderful family doctors. As for the patients with too many problems, they have a solution to meet their expectations -Family medicine specialists from clinics to hospitals ,they are always there for you.

(Disclaimer: The opinion expressed are my own and not of my employer or any organisation I am affiliated to)

Dr Rizwan Nazeer M A P
MBBS, DNB( Family Medicine), MNAMS
Specialist-Family Medicine, Dept of Family Medicine
Aster MIMS KANNUR
AFPI KERALA District coordinator -KANNUR &KASARGODE