ID-5184 Wonca Abstracts supplement A-K 13-10-23 - Flipbook - Page 33
WONCA 2023 Supplement 1: WONCA 2023 abstracts (A–K)
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Scope and challenges of family medicine training in a South
Asian country: The way forward
Prof Faridah Amin Amin Tejani1, Prof Tariq Aziz2, Marie Andrades Andrades3
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Indus College of Family Medicine and Public Health, Indus Hospital and Health Network, 2President
WONCA South Asia, President Pakistan Society of Family Physicians, 3Vice Chair MRCCP in South
Asia, Medical Director Holy Family Hospital
Family physicians play a central role in the primary healthcare system of a country. Barbara Starfield
and colleagues, in their multicountry study, provided evidence that the health outcome indicators
are significantly better with relatively less cost in countries where trained family physicians play a
central role in the healthcare system. According to an estimate, among South Asian countries, at least
70–80% of medical care is being provided by medical graduates, without a postgraduate qualification
in family medicine. The goal is to have three trained family physicians per 10,000 population, which
means that there is a need to produce more than 60,000 family physicians for a population of 220
million in Pakistan. Currently there are hardly 2000 qualified/trained family physicians in the country;
therefore, the primary healthcare needs of the 220 million population of Pakistan is catered to by
untrained general practitioners. Moreover, finding qualified family physicians to serve in areas of need
is a huge challenge. The solution is to develop and train general practitioners residing within the locality
to serve in the same community. These challenges are shared by South Asian countries.
The need to train general practitioners to meet the increasing demand is recognised by various
academic institutions throughout the country. Therefore, many courses, diplomas and degree
programs are being introduced with the intent of producing trained family physicians. However, there
are various challenges that need to be overcome to achieve targets. For example, training in rural areas
with limited resources, achieving desired outcomes through blended learning programs, a dearth of
trainers, especially for virtual teaching, the absence of a cadre for family physicians in the public sector,
financial support to trainees while training, the need for advocacy, etc are major challenges.
The aim of the interactive presentation would be to discuss these challenges, share experiences and
propose solutions to overcome them.
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