NMC contemplating introducing Family Adoption Program in MBBS training

To strengthen the healthcare services in rural areas, the National Medical Commission (NMC) is contemplating introducing Family Adoption Program (FAP) as a part of MBBS training.

The government is working to improve the healthcare infrastructure of India, especially in rural areas. Now, the latest is National Medical Commission (NMC) is considering introducing Family Adoption Program (FAP) as part of the MBBS training curriculum. 

If FAP gets introduced in MBBS training, each medical student may be required to adopt five families to monitor their health conditions regularly and advise them accordingly.

An official has told TOI, "The final proposal with details of the programme and its implementation strategy is ready and is likely to be taken up by NMC for final deliberation soon."

As per the report, the initial proposal is drawn by Aruna Vanikar, president of UG Medical Education Board and it suggests that an MBBS student will be assigned around five families for which they will be responsible for monitoring their general health conditions regularly and need to provide medical advice to the members of the family for three consecutive years.

The medical students need to visit their assigned families regularly especially during the first year. The students also need to provide consultations to the families and need to be available for these families through telemedicine or teleconsultation.

“Consequently, the families shall be self-sufficient for basic health care. Outcomes achieved by the village, students and college be recorded in a database. This will help in grooming MBBS students as ‘complete doctors’ with empathy and confidence to be leaders in socio-health fronts. The neglected rural population will be enriched,” the proposal stated.

Other details of the Family Adoption Program 

The aim is to provide medical students with on-ground hands-on experience from the beginning and also increase the availability and accessibility of doctors or medical professionals in rural areas.

Assistant professors will guide the students while monitoring and providing health care advice to the families. Asha workers may also be involved in the program.

NMC may include FAP under the community medicine department in every college.

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