Introduction

A robust, integrated Primary Healthcare (PHC) is essential to achieve the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) goals and improve health indicators, as indicated by the World Health Organization (WHO). The delivery of these services requires adequate and competent healthcare workers with optimal skills mix at the facility, outreach and community level. Trained family physicians are the core group on which the foundation of this system lies. The aim is to have 3 trained Family Physicians out of a population of 10,000 which means there is a need to train more than 60,000 general practitioners in Pakistan.

Indus Hospital and Health Network (IHHN) is an advocate of community and primary healthcare. Capacity building in family medicine, therefore, is a mandate in order to improve the quality of primary care, especially in far-flung areas where it is difficult to find Family Physicians.

1-year of FMPT is equivalent to 1 year of flexible training for the MRCGP [INT] pathway.

Program Objective

At the end of the course, general practitioners will be able to:

Develop knowledge of the Universal Health Coverage goals and the role of family physicians in primary care to achieve them.

• Take history, examine and manage all age groups and genders seeking consultation in primary care according to the family medicine approach.
• Apply principles of medical ethics to general practice.
• Provide evidence-based best practices to diagnose, manage and refer common non-communicable diseases presenting to primary care.
• Provide evidence-based best practices to diagnose, manage and refer common communicable diseases presenting to primary care.
• Stabilize and/or manage/refer conditions requiring urgent care presenting to primary care.
• Manage and timely refer neonates/children presenting to primary care.
• Manage and timely refer males and females presenting with reproductive health issues in primary care.
• Manage and refer patients presenting with dermatological issues in primary care.
• Identify, manage and refer patients presenting with neuropsychiatric issues in primary care.
• Apply the principles of telehealth consultation to patients consulting through telehealth.
• Prevent complications and manage common diseases among geriatric patients in primary care.
• Moderate rehabilitative care, and end-of-life and palliative care among terminally ill patients.

Scope of Practice

Capacity building in primary care through training of healthcare providers, aiming to improve the quality of patient care, clinical indicators and provision of integrated healthcare services to the community.

Certificate Awarding Authority

Family Medicine Practice Training [FMPT] recognized by MRCGP [INT] South Asia Board.