SWOT analysis of the Family Adoption Program

The Family Adoption Program is incorporated into the Community Medicine undergraduate curriculum starting in the first year of professional training. The objective is to offer a hands-on learning experience geared on improving health equity and community-based healthcare.

Strengths of FAP:

• It is an innovative solution for providing community health care systematically, ensuring coverage of every single household.
• It aligns with SDG 3 and contributes to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
• It offers excellent learning opportunities for undergraduates, enhancing their community awareness, including sociocultural environments, belief systems, and traditions, which improves patient care.
• Community exposure aids students in better understanding the epidemiological triad of any disease.
• The camp activities under FAP are innovative and effective in delivering medical care directly to the community.
• Indian Medical Graduates, as the first point of contact, can educate and assist family members in making appropriate treatment choices, potentially reducing reliance on unqualified practitioners.
• The program’s social responsibility aspect, including environmental protection initiatives, supports climate change actions in collaboration with the community.
• It also helps to learn communication skills and inspire confidence among families.

Weaknesses:

• As a relatively new concept, implementing FAP with a large number of undergraduates can be challenging, particularly with a shortage of senior doctors, non-teaching staff, and medical social workers.
• There can be resistance from families or specific social groups.
• Many community participants require a robust referral system to nearby tertiary care hospitals, which is currently lacking.
• Limitation with respect to frequency of health camp conducted.

Opportunities:

• FAP can serve as a foundation for building a modern, resilient healthcare system in the country.
• Indian Medical Graduates have the chance to gain a deep understanding of community health, including health-seeking behaviors, health needs, and available health policies, enhancing their comprehension of the local healthcare system.
• The program offers opportunities for collaboration with local health leaders, ASHA workers, and anganwadi workers.
• FAP presents an opportunity for policy improvement and strengthening the legal framework for community-based healthcare systems.
• According to UNFPA, India’s elderly population is 153 million. FAP provides an excellent opportunity for geriatric care, especially for those unable to visit hospitals.
• By offering home-based care and diagnostic services, FAP can significantly reduce out-of-pocket expenses.
• As per Global Hunger index 2023, with a score of 28.7 India has a alarming level. Tackling the malnutrition, FAP could prove to be a efficient intervention.
• India faces a substantial burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). WHO projections indicate that annual deaths from NCDs will rise to 55 million by 2030. Active screening and lifestyle modifications through FAP will be a significant intervention in addressing NCDs.
• Creating local One Health action points can raise community awareness about pandemic preparedness, antimicrobial resistance, food safety, zoonotic diseases, and climate mitigation.
• Creating community evidence based policy generation,  conducting research at community level and understating implementation barriers to various National Health Policies.

Threats:

• Insufficient budget allocation for the program.
• Financial constraints, particularly in organizing camps.
• Lack of regulations or frameworks concerning the quality of care.
• Inadequate surveillance and monitoring by higher authorities.

In summary, the Family Adoption Program in India has a strong foundation. The strengths and opportunities are more compared to weaknesses and threats. Its effectiveness and impact can be enhanced by addressing its weaknesses and threats through targeted opportunities:-

• Provision of sufficient funding.
• Ensuring availability of sufficient manpower.
• Timely monitoring and supervision at all level of implementation.
• Understanding knowledge gap and implementation barriers to various National Health Programme and utilizing FAP as a implementing tool.
• Encouraging community based research among Indian Medical graduates via regular training and workshops.

*Photo clicked by Dr Samidha Kushwaha

Photo showing oath taking for protection of environment in community. Event organised by Department of Community Medicine, UCMS & GTB Hospital in Nand Nagri as a part of FAP.

*Photo clicked by Dr Samidha Kushwaha

Photo depicting screening of community members from UG students under FAP.