Tambaram: Senior doctors have expressed concern that the role of family physicians, who continuously monitor the health of every family, identify the nature of illnesses, and provide treatment, is now declining.
A three-day medical exhibition organized by the Tambaram branch of the Indian Medical Association began on the 17th in Tambaram, near Chennai. On this occasion, doctors Balasubramanian, Ragavelu, Yasodha, Amudha, and Karunanidhi, among others, participated and spoke at a discussion held under the title “My Family Doctors.”
They said: In the past, every family had a family doctor. If anyone in the family, from children to the elderly, fell ill, they would first consult that doctor. Because they knew details such as the family members’ age, health condition, pre-existing illnesses, medical history, and eating habits, family doctors played an important role in understanding the nature of the illness and providing treatment. They would not only treat illnesses after they occurred, but also offer advice on how to prevent them.
However, at present, various medical specialties such as cardiology, nephrology, neurology, orthopedics, and diabetes care have developed. As a result, instead of consulting a family doctor when a health problem arises, the trend of directly approaching the relevant specialist doctor has increased. Because of this, the role of family doctors in continuously monitoring the overall health of the family is declining.
The services of specialist doctors are essential for identifying diseases and providing appropriate treatment. At the same time, when a person receives treatment from different doctors for various health problems, it is also necessary to coordinate and monitor the medicines they take, their previous medical records, and any changes in their health condition.
Having a family doctor who knows a family’s medical background helps identify the early signs of illness and obtain the advice of specialist doctors when needed. Therefore, along with the growth of specialized medical fields, importance should also be given to the family medicine system. Every family should once again develop the habit of staying in continuous contact with a trusted doctor. They emphasized this.
