Bengaluru, July 2025:
The 5th State Conference on Family Medicine and Primary Care, AFPICON Karnataka 2025, is set to take place on August 3, 2025, at St. John’s Auditorium, Bengaluru. Organized by the Karnataka Chapter of the Academy of Family Physicians of India (AFPI), the event will spotlight the growing relevance of family medicine in India’s healthcare landscape.
Historically, family doctors served as trusted healthcare providers, offering guidance, emotional support, and holistic care to generations. However, in recent decades, the rise of medical subspecialties—primarily hospital-based and organ-specific—has overshadowed the role of generalist practitioners. This shift, though marked by clinical and technological advances, has led to a growing gap in community-based, continuous care.
In response to this gap, family medicine is re-emerging as a distinct clinical specialty, combining person-centered care with broad medical expertise. This model fosters long-term relationships between physicians and patients and addresses healthcare needs holistically—across all ages and life stages.
Healthcare experts continue to stress that primary care forms the backbone of an effective health system. Studies have shown that systems built on strong primary care—delivered by well-trained generalist doctors—are not only more cost-efficient but also provide better clinical outcomes.
India is currently producing nearly 60,000 MBBS graduates annually, and by 2030, this number is projected to surpass one million. With proper orientation and training, a significant portion of this workforce could serve at the frontline of primary care—addressing existing gaps and strengthening healthcare delivery across the country.
AFPI, the leading academic body for family physicians in India, has been advocating for skill-based training and professional development in primary care. The organization is spearheading a national movement to integrate family medicine into mainstream healthcare, aiming to revive the traditional family doctor model through structured education and reform.
Speaking about the event, Dr. Sowmya B Ramesh, President of AFPI Karnataka, said that the conference will bring together over 300 participants, including healthcare professionals from the public and private sectors, medical students, interns, and policymakers. The conference will serve as a platform to discuss innovations in primary care practice, strengthen inter-professional collaboration, and explore models to enhance quality and access in healthcare delivery.
Padma Shri awardee and Member of Parliament Dr. C. N. Manjunath will inaugurate the event at 12 noon on August 3 at Lecture Hall 1, Golden Jubilee Block, St. John’s Medical College. Also in attendance will be Col. Dr. Mohan Kubendra, National President of AFPI, and Dr. Raman Kumar, Founding President of AFPI.
The conference theme, “At Every Stage, At Every Age – Family Medicine Transforming Women and Child Health,” underscores the vital role of family medicine in ensuring equitable, lifelong care for individuals and communities alike.
“AFPICON 2025 is an invitation to re-center healthcare around people, families, and the community.”
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