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Family Medicine Central to Effective Delivery
of Health Care in Developing Countries
Family Medicine's central role in the effective and efficient delivery
of health care to the burgeoning populations of developing countries
was highlighted by experts of international repute at the inaugural
session of the three-day 2nd International Family Medicine Conference
at Aga Khan University (AKU) on February 4, 2005. The conference,
which includes a workshop on the final day, concludes on February
6.
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| The
conference ‘Strengthening the Central Role of Family Medicine
in Health Care’ was organised by AKU’s Department
of Family Medicine in collaboration with the World Organization
of Family Doctors (WONCA), Royal College of General Practitioners,
UK, and College of Family Medicine, Pakistan. Participants included
physicians from Pakistan and other Asian countries as well as
Australia, East Africa, the Middle East, UK and US, who explored
the role of Family Medicine in relation to clinical care, preventive
care, continuing medical education, research and development
of leadership skills. |
The conference, titled 'Strengthening the Central Role of Family Medicine
in Health Care', was organised by AKU's Department of Family Medicine
in collaboration with the World Organization of Family Doctors (WONCA),
Royal College of General Practitioners, UK, and College of Family
Medicine, Pakistan. Participants, which included physicians from Pakistan
and other Asian countries as well as Australia, East Africa, the Middle
East, UK and US, explored issues pertinent to strengthening the central
role of Family Medicine in relation to clinical care, preventive care,
continuing medical education, research and development of leadership
skills.
Welcoming the guests, Dr Mohammad Khurshid, Dean, AKU Medical College,
pointed out that "it is generally recognised in both developed and
developing countries that the quality of Family Medicine practice
can play a central role in the improvement of health care of every
section of the population in a caring and cost-effective way."
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| The
audience at the 2nd International Family Medicine Conference
at Aga Khan University (AKU) listened to experts shedding light
on an array of issues and unravelling emerging trends in Family
Medicine. |
Dr Riaz Qureshi, Chair of the Family Medicine Department, AKU, said
in his introductory address that the World Health Organization (WHO)
had identified certain major barriers to equitable health care in
developing countries. These, he elaborated, have been defined as unequal
access to prevention and care, rising costs of health care, inefficient
health care systems and weak emphasis on generalist training. Dr Qureshi
added that WHO has duly acknowledged the Family Medicine practitioner
as a physician who will play "a central role in overcoming these barriers."
Dr Garth Manning, Medical Director, International Development Programme,
Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP), UK, discussed the partnership
between AKU and RCGP, UK. He went on to explain that a health care
system oriented towards Family Medicine is associated with "lower
costs, higher satisfaction of the population with its health care
services, better health levels and lower medication use."
Dr Shatendra Gupta, Professor and Regional President, WONCA-MESAR
(Middle East and South Asian Region), described his organisation's
role in highlighting Family Medicine's fundamental role in enhancing
the quality of health care delivery. WONCA's mission, he said, includes "fostering and maintaining high standards of care in General Practice/Family
Medicine and promoting personal, comprehensive and continuing care
of the individual in the context of the family and community."
Dr Gupta's presentation was followed by an address by Mr Shamsh Kassim-Lakha,
President of AKU, who was the chief guest at the inaugural session.
Comparing the role of the family physician with that of the "old practitioner",
Mr Kassim-Lakha explained that the principles of Family Medicine apply
universally to all cultures and social groups. "The emphasis is not
only on the curative aspects of care but also on promotion of a healthy
mind and body along with prevention of diseases." The practitioners
of this speciality, he continued, focus on the physical, psychological,
personal and social aspects of care using a holistic family-centred
approach.
The AKU President informed the audience that the Chancellor and Board
of Trustees of the University actively encouraged the establishment
of Pakistan's first structured Family Medicine residency programme,
along with the incorporation of Family Medicine principles in the
undergraduate programme of the Medical College. Established as a Section
of the Community Health Sciences Department in 1994, Family Medicine
became an independent clinical department at AKU in 2003.
AKU recognises that the endemic problems of a region beset with financial
difficulties and low development indicators can only be addressed
through relevant research focusing on producing low-cost, accessible
and innovative solutions. The University provides an enabling environment
to conduct research for needs that are widespread.
Earlier Dr David Taylor, Acting Provost of AKU, said that as the field
of clinical medicine becomes more complex, the role of the Family
Medicine practitioner becomes all the more critical. "There needs
to be a partnership between two categories of specialists, one who
is up to date with the latest research findings in a particular area
and who has access to the technology with which to refine diagnoses
and plan treatment, and the other who understands the patient as a
whole person, located in a family and a community," he explained.
"Using an evidence-based approach, the latter knows where to look
first and knows what patterns of morbidity are most prevalent in his
or her particular practice. This saves the patient anxiety and expense,
as well as making things easier for the hospital-based specialist."
The conference's inaugural session concluded with a vote of thanks
by Dr Rosslynne Freeman, Professor, Education Development, AKU, and
International Advisor to RCGP, UK.
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