Continuing the discussions from the inaugural sessions of the 6th National Conference on Family Medicine and Primary Care at AIIMS Rishikesh, the third day witnessed a series of impactful activities led by Uttarakhand’s Governor, Lt. Gen. Gurmit Singh, who formally inaugurated the final day’s proceedings. With the theme “Primary Care Physicians are the Foundation of the Public Health System” at the core, the event saw participation from over 800 delegates and more than 100 medical experts and faculty members from across the globe, all coming together to deliberate on strengthening family medicine in India.
Under the leadership of AIIMS Executive Director and CEO, Professor Dr. Meenu Singh, the conference furthered its mission of enhancing primary healthcare across rural and underserved regions. Governor Singh praised AIIMS’ ongoing efforts to bolster family medicine outreach, particularly highlighting their adoption of 18 remote villages and the establishment of free medical clinics in multiple slum areas, which have significantly improved access to healthcare for underprivileged populations.
The Governor also underscored the importance of Jan Aushadhi Kendras in making affordable medicines available to the masses and called upon doctors to raise awareness about generic drugs, ensuring that people can access low-cost medications. He further emphasized the need for medical professionals to actively engage in promoting generic medicine use among the public.
Marking a key highlight of the third day, Governor Singh digitally launched the conference’s souvenir and formally unveiled the book “Transforming Lives: Community Outreach Program,” which showcases the achievements of AIIMS’ Community Outreach Cell.
Parmarth Niketan’s spiritual leader, Swami Chidanand Saraswati, added a cultural dimension to the discussions, remarking that family doctors and the concept of family medicine align with the broader values of Indian culture and tradition. He stressed that deep contemplation is necessary to preserve and enrich these traditions, which play a vital role in the well-being of families and society as a whole.
Addressing the audience, Professor Raman Kumar, National President of AFPI, reiterated the conference’s objective of reinstating the traditional role of family doctors in India. He stressed the need for a resurgence of family medicine, which has taken a backseat amidst the rise of super-specializations. He noted that institutions like NITI Aayog have recognized the importance of family physicians and are prioritizing their role in India’s healthcare policies.
Professor Kumar further shared that the National Medical Commission (NMC) Act of 2019 also emphasizes family medicine, with plans to train family physicians nationwide, marking a significant step toward rejuvenating this essential healthcare model.
The event concluded with Dr. Santosh Kumar, the conference’s organizing secretary, expressing gratitude to all medical experts and delegates from around the world. He encouraged continuous learning, noting that knowledge extends far beyond books and that everyone should remain open to new ideas.
Other notable attendees included Dr. Rashmi Malhotra, who coordinated the event, along with Dean of Academics Professor Dr. Jaya Chaturvedi, Dr. Manu Malhotra, Dr. Mahendra Singh, Professor Vikas Bhatia, and Dr. Ashok Bhardwaj.
