Summary:
There was common consensus among panelist that Community Medicine (CM) is a multi-displinary field that covers all aspects of health system. The graduates of CM have strong clinical as well as public health background. However, the graduates should be proactive, create and seize new opportunities to make the field recognized at national and international level. The scope of the field is large and the COVID-19 pandemic has only created more opportunities and demands. Constant lobbying at the health system level is needed to strengthen the subject and the fraternity. Multi-institutional collaboration with training and resource sharing is needed to enhance the capacity of CM graduates. Institutional leadership in combination with institutional policies, structure and process is crucial for development.
Brief Background:
The proceedings of the webinar started with the speech from Prof Dr. Lochana Shrestha, President of Nepalese Society of Community Medicine of Nepal (NESCOM) followed by a speech from the General Secretary Dr. Dipesh Tamrakar. The duo appreciated the initiation of webinar series and congratulated the entire team for their hard work. It was then followed with the introduction of the panelist by Dr. Nikita Bhattarai (Master of Ceremony for the Program). The webinar had 5 panelists, Prof. Dr. Nilambar Jha, Prof Dr. Lochana Shrestha, Prof. Dr. Sunil Kumar Joshi, Dr. Gajananda Bhandari and Dr. Biraj Man Karmacharya who represented different academic institutions and international organization in Nepal. The moderation of the program was done by Dr. Prajjwal Pyakurel and Dr. Pushpanjali Adhikari (both were the executive committee of NESCOM). There was an extensive discussion about different aspects of Community Medicine subjects with positive note given by all the panelist. The webinar lasted for about two hours and there were 75 participants during the webinar.
Objectives of webinar:
- To have the viewpoint of different panelist on CM as a subject and the role of the CM graduates in the current health system
- To understand the skills needed besides books to sustain as a CM graduate in Nepal
- To figure out the grooming culture, mentor, mentee relationship during pre-service training of CM in Nepal
Key Points that came out during the discussion:
- Government placement of CM graduates in the health system is crucial for the development of the subject and the fraternity. Vacancies should be opened for the CM graduates through Public Service Commission.
- Flexible academic training curriculum with exposure in real field settings is needed for the field to develop and interest of the candid should be prioritized
- There should be broader understanding between different institutions to create a model of excellence of multinstitutional collaboration. Institutional leadership is key to make this happen.
- Opportunities for the CM graduates are plenty. However, one should be innovative, creative and seize the opportunities to establish oneself in the health system
- Working in the international projects helps to be groomed as an independent researcher
Point for the policy brief:
- CM is a subject which touches majority of the aspect of the health system and covers both the clinical as well as public health. The graduates of CM should be utilized by the government through Public Service Commission in building government institutional capacity and involve them as Community Physicians, Teacher, Trainer, Researcher and Leader to utilize their potential in the health system of the country.
Points to be discussed in the executive committee:
- Mechanism of creating multinstitutional collaboration for teaching, learning, research and trainings
- Lobbying for the placement of CM in Public Service Commission, Government of Nepal
- Development of innovative model of practice of CM
Conclusion:
The webinar was fruitful which covered all the objective set. There was firm conclusion that CM graduates has plenty of opportunities. However, one needs to be innovative, creative and seize opportunities and accept challenges to succeed at highest level.