MCI to initiate MD in Family Medicine

Puducherry: In earlier times, one's family physician held a prominent place in the day to day health problems of a family,whether it was grandpa's giving away knee joints or the grandchild's running nose. Ones family physician was ones family confidante. With passing time that picture seems to have changed. With the rising role of specialization in Medicine, the the healing touch of the family physician, seems to be gradually dying.

The Medical Council of India in an effort to revive the warmth and culture of this age old relationship between a family and its physician, has decided to roll out an MD course in Family Medicine.

Dr. H.S. Ballal, Pro Chancellor, Manipal University, Karnataka, delivering the 9^th Graduation Day address at the Pondicherry Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), made an official announcement to this effect.

Dr.Ballal said the earlier concept of the family physician, apart from being the first point of contact in medical issues, but also being like a member of the family, giving guidance on various other issues, as well, has been gradually disappearing. He said it was keeping this tradition in mind, that the MCI was planning to start an MD in Family Medicine.