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The trail run of the Family Physician programme in the State is largely a success, says Health Secretary

The Mobile Medical Unit (104), led by Dr. S. Ravi, a ‘Family Physician’ of Penamaluru Primary Health Centre, arrived at Yanamalakuduru Village on Wednesday. As the MMU was stationed at a feasible location in the village, locals who were already informed a day in advance about their ‘Family Physician’ visit gathered and consulted the doctor.

People diagnosed with non-communicable and seasonal diseases will be treated and given medicines for up to one month. Their condition will be reviewed in the next visit, 15 days later, by the Family Physician.

As envisaged by Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, the Family Physician pilot programme has brought free medical service to people’s doorsteps. Nearly eight lakh people in the State took doctor consultations under the Family Physician pilot programme.

The Health, Medical, and Family Welfare Department launched the pilot programme on October 21. A doctor would be available at the Mobile Medical Units, also called the 104 services, at the Dr. Y. S. R. Village Health Clinics (VHC). People of 7,166 villages in the 26 districts were attended to by doctors twice between October 21 and November 28.

Through the programme, the doctors working as Family Physicians or Medical Officers (MOs) at the Primary Health Centers (PHC) would closely monitor the health of the villagers of each Village Secretariat, maintain their health records, conduct periodic health checkups and refer the patients for further treatment if needed.

Two MOs lead each PHC, one conducting field visits for at least 15 days a month while the other would be available at the PHC.

“During the past month, we have covered all the villages under the Dr. YSR Village Health Clinics. About 7,166 villages were visited twice, and 2,866 villages were visited at least once by Family Physicians. During the visits, 7.86 lakh people consulted the FPs and availed of treatment and diagnostic services,” Principal Secretary to Govt. (Health, Medical and Family Welfare) M.T. Krishna Babu told The Hindu.