By Chioma  Obinna

Worried by the chaotic nature of healthcare delivery in the country, the Association General and Medical Private Practitioners of Nigeria (AGMPN), has called on Federal government to establish policies that would take proactive measures in building a sustainable, efficient, accessible, cost-effective primary care driven by general practitioners/family physician.

Speaking on the 2011 World Family Doctor Day with the theme; “The Role of General Practitioner/Family Physician in Health Care System”, President of the Association, Dr Anthony Omolola, observed that failure to establish efficient healthcare services at the Primary Health Care (PHC) level has impacted negatively on the country’s health indices.

Omolola said government had not built enough capacity within the primary care health system especially in training and re-training. Further, he queried failure to recognise grassroots practitioners such as the family physician/general practitioners who are closer and knowledgeable of the epidemiology of the communities, and health related behaviour in the community among others.

He said: “The general/family physician in many advanced and developing countries of the world is the only clinician who operates in the nine levels of care which includes prevention, pre-symptomatic detection of disease, early diagnosis, diagnosis of established disease, management of disease, management of disease complications, rehabilitation, terminal care and counseling.”

AGMPN, a member of the World Organisation of National Colleges, Academics (WONCA) and Academic Association of General Practitioners/Family Physician is set to commence a nationwide advocacy on effective care at the grass roots.

The World Family Doctor Day was designated by to highlight the role of general practitioner/family physicians as the pyramid and gatekeepers of healthcare systems as well as promote the fact that nations with strong and sustainable primary care usually come out with better health outcomes and less health expenditure.

State Chairman, AGMPN, Dr. Olayinka Oladosu said their members who care for 65-70 percent of patients, were ready to partner with government to ensure that Nigerians have access to better healthcare services.