General Practice in developing countries: A SWOC analysis.
General practice is the backbone of the health care delivery system in almost all developing countries. Martin Roland and Sam Everington describe the crises in general practice and the NHS. The scenario in developed countries may be different, but in developing countries GPs have their own strength and weakness .
Strength of General practice:
In developing countries like India and countries of the Afro–Asian continent, the health care delivery system is mainly based on general practice for primary health care delivery. We must use the checklist manifesto like the Dutch College of General Practitioners (1).
Weakness:
1. The laws of the land
2. Consumerism .
3. Lack of standards from accreditation agencies.
4. Insurance coverage.
5. Improper maintenance of a registry of GPs.
Opportunities:
1. Opportunities are plenty.
2. They can reduce the burden on secondary, tertiary and super specialty centers for the most commonly occurring diseases like fever, colds, routine check ups, etc.
3. Improper implementation of recommendations made by various NGOs, Committees and experts.
Challenges:
1. Lack of advanced skill.
2. Lack of funding.
3. Lack of advanced technology as well as instruments for better health care delivery.
In conclusion
Governing agencies must look into these matters seriously and pass guidelines (2). Encouraging and funding accreditation as well as regulatory bodies to conduct CMEs regularly on both communicable and non-communicable disorders. Improving curriculum. Extending insurance coverage to GPs also. Financial support to the GPs to acquire new skills, new instruments, etc. Conducting workshops to reduce stress level as well developing soft skills. These all may help GPs overcome the crises mentioned by Martin Roland and Sam Everington.
References:
1. Thomas S. Standard setting in the Netherlands: impact of the human factor on guideline development. Br J Gen Pract1994;44:242–24
2. Grol R. Beliefs and evidence in changing clinical practice. BMJ 1997;315:418–421.
Competing interests:
No competing interests
18 February 2016
Kamath Madhusudhana
Associate Professor.
Associate Professor.
Dept.of Ayurveda,Kasturbha Medical College,Manipal University,Manipal-576 104,India.
Rapid Response:
Re: Tackling the crisis in general practice
General Practice in developing countries: A SWOC analysis.
General practice is the backbone of the health care delivery system in almost all developing countries. Martin Roland and Sam Everington describe the crises in general practice and the NHS. The scenario in developed countries may be different, but in developing countries GPs have their own strength and weakness .
Strength of General practice:
In developing countries like India and countries of the Afro–Asian continent, the health care delivery system is mainly based on general practice for primary health care delivery. We must use the checklist manifesto like the Dutch College of General Practitioners (1).
Weakness:
1. The laws of the land
2. Consumerism .
3. Lack of standards from accreditation agencies.
4. Insurance coverage.
5. Improper maintenance of a registry of GPs.
Opportunities:
1. Opportunities are plenty.
2. They can reduce the burden on secondary, tertiary and super specialty centers for the most commonly occurring diseases like fever, colds, routine check ups, etc.
3. Improper implementation of recommendations made by various NGOs, Committees and experts.
Challenges:
1. Lack of advanced skill.
2. Lack of funding.
3. Lack of advanced technology as well as instruments for better health care delivery.
In conclusion
Governing agencies must look into these matters seriously and pass guidelines (2). Encouraging and funding accreditation as well as regulatory bodies to conduct CMEs regularly on both communicable and non-communicable disorders. Improving curriculum. Extending insurance coverage to GPs also. Financial support to the GPs to acquire new skills, new instruments, etc. Conducting workshops to reduce stress level as well developing soft skills. These all may help GPs overcome the crises mentioned by Martin Roland and Sam Everington.
References:
1. Thomas S. Standard setting in the Netherlands: impact of the human factor on guideline development. Br J Gen Pract1994;44:242–24
2. Grol R. Beliefs and evidence in changing clinical practice. BMJ 1997;315:418–421.
Competing interests: No competing interests