Editorial: The Future of Family Medicine as a Specialty in Pakistan
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70765/6nx0fh25Keywords:
faimly medicine, health, future, kpk.Abstract
Globally, family medicine is considered the foundation of primary healthcare systems, and its significance is becoming more widely acknowledged in Pakistan. Pakistan's healthcare system is under a lot of strain due to the country's fast expanding population, diverse healthcare system, and new public health issues. Given this, family medicine is a profession with great potential to address numerous systemic problems, increase access to healthcare, and promote the patient-centered care movement. But there are many obstacles facing family medicine in Pakistan, and lawmakers, educators, and medical professionals must work together to overcome them.
Family medicine as a specialty focuses on the continuous, comprehensive care of patients of all ages and genders, incorporating social, mental, and physical health into treatment regimens. (1) Family medicine stresses the full range of healthcare, including preventive, curative, and rehabilitative treatments, in contrast to specialty medicine, which sometimes concentrates on a limited field. Better patient outcomes and increased satisfaction with healthcare services are the results of fostering long-term connections between patients and healthcare providers.
Family medicine is more important than ever in Pakistan. Alongside the persistent problems caused by infectious diseases, the nation is seeing a rise in the prevalence of chronic conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular disorders. (2) Because of this dual burden of disease, family medicine may offer a comprehensive approach to healthcare. Family doctors are qualified to treat both acute and chronic illnesses, providing the continuity of care required to manage diseases over the long term, lowering hospitalization rates, and relieving the burden on specialized care.
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References
1)Iqbal, M., et al. (2020). Mental health in family practice: A need for integration in Pakistan. Psychiatry Research Journal, 276, 25-30.
2)Ahmad, N., & Khan, A. H. (2018). The importance of family medicine in addressing the rising burden of non-communicable diseases in Pakistan. Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care, 7(3), 489-494.
3)Bhatti, A. M., & Janjua, N. Z. (2016). Family medicine and its role in rural healthcare in Pakistan: Challenges and opportunities. Rural and Remote Health Journal, 16(4), 4034.
4)Khan, M. A., & Mahmood, M. A. (2017). The status of family medicine in Pakistan: An overview. Journal of the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan, 27(8), 489-493.
5)Syed, A., & Iqbal, M. (2015). Family medicine in Pakistan: A neglected specialty. Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences, 31(3), 651-655.
6)Zafar, S. S., & Usman, M. (2019). Family medicine in Pakistan: A need for curriculum reform. Pakistan Medical Journal, 68(10), 123-128.
7)Alam, S., & Tariq, M. (2020). Public perceptions of family medicine in Pakistan: Barriers to its development. BMC Family Practice, 21, 45.
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