Role of family medicine education in India′s step toward universal health coverage

• Main Authors: Sajitha M.F. Rahman, Ruby P Angeline, Kirubah V David, Prince Christopher
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2014-01-01
• Series: Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care
• Subjects: Family medicine; family physician; universal health coverage
• Online Access: http://www.jfmpc.com/article.asp?issn=2249-4863;year=2014;volume=3;issue=3;spage=180;epage=182;aulast=Rahman

India′s commitment to universal health coverage has grown stronger with the submission of High Level Expert Group report by the Planning Commission in 2012. With this report comes the commitment to increase the primary health-care workforce to meet the population needs. However, the focus should not be just to increase the number of health workers, but to produce better health workers. Doctors, nurses and community health workers trained in primary and secondary health-care facilities can make a significant contribution in responding to the needs of the local community. The role of family medicine education is worth exploring in this context to equip the primary care health workers with the competencies of providing person-centered, comprehensive and continuous care.