Hyderabad: The medical community in Hyderabad is pushing for the return of family physicians (FPs), aligning with Chief Minister Revanth Reddy’s vision. Their primary demand is the introduction of family medicine departments at the postgraduate level across state hospitals and medical colleges.
Why the Push for Family Physicians?
Doctors argue that reviving the family physician model will:
✅ Provide comprehensive primary care
✅ Reduce healthcare costs
✅ Improve management of chronic diseases
✅ Shift focus from specialist-driven care to preventive healthcare
Lack of Family Medicine Seats in Telangana
Dr Kiran Madala, General Secretary of the Telangana Teaching Government Doctors Association (TTGDA), highlighted that two decades ago, family medicine was part of MD courses, but it has now disappeared from the 22 specialties offered in Telangana.
Currently, Telangana has zero postgraduate seats for family medicine, and only seven states in India offer a total of just 17 seats. Meanwhile, neighboring Andhra Pradesh launched the Family Doctor Programme, attaching over 10,000 doctors to villages.
Government’s Next Steps
The Academy of Family Physicians of India (AFPI) has urged Health Minister Damaodar Rajanarasimha to introduce family medicine departments in government medical colleges like:
🏥 Gandhi Hospital
🏥 Osmania Hospital
🏥 NIMS
🏥 A hospital in Warangal
The Director of Medical Education (DME), Dr A Narendra Kumar, stated that until dedicated professors are hired, general physicians can lead family medicine departments, as per National Medical Commission (NMC) norms.
Doctors Call for Incentives & Integration into Healthcare
Experts stress the need to incentivize medical graduates to pursue family medicine and integrate them into:
- Primary Health Centers (PHCs) and Community Health Centers (CHCs)
- The Ayushman Bharat scheme
Dr Burri Rangareddy, Chairman of Public Health, IMA Telangana, noted that:
🔹 Clinics & nursing homes are declining due to corporate hospital expansion in tier-2 and tier-3 cities
🔹 This has made healthcare more expensive
🔹 Offering family medicine courses will encourage family physician-led clinics
🔹 80% of patients can receive quality treatment closer to home
🔹 Collaboration between policymakers, medical colleges, and private healthcare can reduce out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE)
What’s Next?
📌 The Telangana Government has directed the DME to initiate paperwork for introducing family medicine departments.
📌 A presentation to the health minister on FP implementation is in the works.
📌 The push for family physicians could reshape Telangana’s healthcare landscape, making care more accessible and affordable.
