Kandivli, Mumbai -- (SBWire) -- 12/05/2011 --In an age where people are used to rushing to specialists for every small ailment, the Federation of Family Physicians’ Associations of India [FFPAI] has organized the "WONCA FFPAI South Asia Conference of Family Doctors - Mumbai 2011" to highlight the indispensability of Family Doctors and to create awareness on the yeoman service provided by Family Doctors. To be held from December 16th to 18, 2011 at the Renaissance Convention Centre Hotel, Powai, MUMBAI, the conference is hosted by FFPAI and General Practitioners’ Association-Greater Bombay [GPA] in collaboration with Academy of Family Physicians of India and under the patronage of the World Organization of National Colleges, Academies and Academic Associations of General Practitioners/Family Physicians. (or Wonca or World Organization of Family Doctors.)

General practitioners/family doctors are personal doctors, primarily responsible for the provision of comprehensive and continuing care to every individual and due to repeated contacts are aware of the physical, psychological, social and cultural aspects of the individual.

With advances like genome mapping, changing disease patterns, newer fertility treatments born daily, the world needs to revisit the benefits of primary care physicians’ significance in making healthcare accessible and affordable. The Medical practice will change drastically than ever before. The conference seeks to equip doctors - young and old - meet these challenges and to create a strategy to adapt to the anticipated changes. The first of a kind conference shall have presentations and white papers from leading doctors from across the globe. The main theme of the conference viz. ‘Only Family Doctors can Provide Accessible, Cost Beneficial and Equitable Healthcare’ endeavour's to create awareness about the role of General physicians in the overall well being of individuals.

The plenary sessions will comprise of case studies, clinical trials, surveys, issues of family practice, rural health, topics of relevance to primary care or interesting cases. Amongst the issues to be discussed will be Alcohol, Tobacco & Drugs, Bioethics, Communication skills, Education on General Practice, Emergency Medicine & Care, Family Medical Care, Family Studies, Food and Nutrition, Gender Topics, Health Administration, Injury and Emergency, Health Services, Maternal Health, Mental Health, Occupational Health and safety, Patient, Health Education/Promotion, Referral System, Research in General Practice, Rural Health, School Health Education and Service and HIV/AIDS. There will also be Hospital Visits & CME (Continuous Medical Education) Program for All delegates.

Says Dr Ramnik Parekh, Conference Executive Chairman, "A physician's continuing professional development is critical to keeping up with advances in medicine "

WONCA ( http://www.woncasar2011.com ) President Dr Richard Roberts, Prof Michael Kidd, WONCA World President Prof. Chris van Weil and Dr. Preethi Wijegooneverdene, WONCA Regional President for South Asia are a few dignitaries who will be attending the conference. Over 1000 Indian, Asian and international family physicians are expected to attend the South Asian Conference of Family Doctors.

FFPAI is made up of Medical Associations of General Practitioners/Family Physicians of India concerned with the academic and other aspects of general family practice. The association has 40 member units in India with a total membership of over 8000 general practitioners/family physicians.

Wonca has 120 member organizations in 99 countries with a total membership of over 250,000 general practitioners/family physicians. Wonca represents and acts as an advocate for its constituent members at an international level where it interacts with world bodies such as the World Health Organization. For further details please contact on woncasar2011@gmail.com or log onto http://www.woncasar2011.com / http://www.thespiceroute.co / http://www.ffpai.org