Documentary highlights role of family physicians in strengthening primary healthcare

The premiere of the documentary 'The Doctor Next Door: A Legacy of Care' in Bengaluru shed light on the crucial role that family physicians play in providing accessible, affordable, and patient-centred healthcare. The film, directed by Ganesh Shankar Raj and produced by the Academy of Family Physicians of India (AFPI), showcases the significance of long-standing doctor-patient relationships built on trust, familiarity, and personal attention.

It highlights how these relationships are essential in maintaining effective primary care, particularly in the face of a growing trend towards specialized and corporate hospital-based treatments.

Swetha Reddy, the project manager of the documentary, stated that the film includes viewpoints from young medical students and practitioners interested in careers in general practice. This emphasis underscores the necessity for changes in medical education and healthcare policy to foster family medicine. The documentary's screening was followed by a panel discussion with scientists, medical professionals, senior family physicians, and community health advocates, focusing on the challenges of primary healthcare, the importance of family medicine, and the value of human relationships in medical practice.

Veteran family physician B.C. Rao, along with other healthcare professionals associated with AFPI, contributed to this initiative. The documentary aims to spark broader discussions on reviving primary healthcare networks in both urban and rural areas, recognizing neighbourhood doctors as vital components of the healthcare system.