Strengthening the Base of Healthcare with Focus on Family Physicians

Abstract

India has a wide range of healthcare providers and systems. The base is formed by general practitioners from both allopathic and alternate systems of medicine. However, the concept of the family physician is yet to find firm roots both at the academic and scientific, as well as the community level. A family physician has a holistic approach and has to engage with all members and age-groups in a family. He/she has to take care of physical health, mental health, and be abreast of social, occupational and economic factors, along with lifestyle, and nutrition. In addition, accessibility, patient comfort, dissemination of information and guidance, along with closer monitoring defines the family physician as compared to a general physician. The pandemic brought forth the importance of the family physician and how they can improve patient outcomes and reduce the load on healthcare infrastructure. It is pertinent in a country like India to formalize the family physician through academic training and qualification, financial and career growth opportunities, exposure in research as well as policy making, and establishing a healthcare structure and referral system with family physicians as its foundation.