Ashim Roy and Lela Shengelia
Family Medicine is gripping interests of researchers, academicians and policymakers in many countries because of its proven efficiency of mitigating rising globalized diseases through primary health care (PHC). Family Physicians having 5-star quality, namely: competent clinician, manager, PHC team-leader, teacher and community leader, are recognized as the frontrunner of the PHC. However, Family Medicine is still either in infancy or unrecognized and prospect of Family Physicians are challenged by status conflict with clinical specialists in many countries including Bangladesh. This study aims to promote the scopes of Family Medicine specialty for improving social, health and economic prospects at rural Bangladesh. A literature review was conducted during March 2015 on health system structure, and trends of morbidity and mortality of major diseases burdens; especially, in rural Bangladesh along with personal contacts with health professionals. Non-communicable diseases are the rising major cause of morbidity and mortality in Bangladesh along with unsettled communicable diseases. Socio-economic, behavioural, cultural and environmental factors are the key determinants of those emerging diseases. Many of those diseases could be prevented and controlled cost-effectively at community level by motivated and competent Family Physicians. Modern medical practices often are neither personcentered nor community-oriented rather than technologybased that conflicts with the principles of Family Medicine. Integration of Family Medicine specialization could be an evidence-based cost-effective strategy of overcoming the rising health and economic risks of rural people related to the emerging diseases.
