Spice Route Movement

The Spice Route Movement of Young Family Doctors in South Asia

The Spice Route Movement is an innovative initiative that connects young family doctors across South Asia. It aims to enhance collaboration, knowledge sharing, and capacity building among healthcare professionals in the region. Named after the ancient trade routes that facilitated cultural and economic exchanges, this movement seeks to foster a sense of community and collective growth among young family physicians who are essential to their countries' health systems.

In South Asia, family medicine is a critical component of healthcare, addressing the diverse health needs of populations while delivering comprehensive, continuous care. However, young family doctors often need more resource access, adequate training opportunities, and a lack of mentorship. The Spice Route Movement addresses these challenges by creating a platform for young doctors to connect, share experiences, and collaborate on best practices.

One of the movement's key goals is to promote knowledge exchange and professional development. Through workshops, seminars, and collaborative projects, young family doctors can gain valuable insights into family medicine, including community health, preventive care, and chronic disease management. This peer-to-peer learning approach strengthens individual skill sets and contributes to the overall improvement of healthcare delivery in the region.

Furthermore, the Spice Route Movement emphasizes the importance of advocacy and public health initiatives. By raising awareness about relevant health issues, such as maternal and child health, non-communicable diseases, and mental health, young family doctors can drive positive change within their communities. Collaborating with local organizations and government bodies, the movement aims to implement effective health policies and programs that address pressing health challenges in South Asia.

In addition to professional growth, the Spice Route Movement fosters camaraderie among young family doctors, encouraging a sense of belonging and shared purpose. Participants build lasting relationships that transcend geographical boundaries by engaging in social events and networking opportunities. This sense of community enriches their professional lives and enhances their personal development.

The Spice Route Movement of Young Family Doctors in South Asia represents a significant step toward strengthening the future of family medicine in the region. This movement empowers young family doctors to make meaningful contributions to their communities and the broader healthcare landscape by facilitating collaboration, fostering knowledge exchange, and promoting advocacy for health issues. As the movement continues to grow, it holds the potential to transform the field of family medicine in South Asia, ultimately improving health outcomes for millions.

AFPI is one of the founding members of the Spice Route Movement, a forum for young and future family doctors in the South Asia region. The SPICE ROUTE is the WONCA South Asia Region working group for new and future doctors interested in Family Medicine, General Practice, and Primary Care. It aims to promote excellence in this field and address the challenges of Global Health.

The Spice Route India Chairs

Dr. Raman Kumar (2010-2014)

Dr. Bhawna Matta (2014-2016)

Dr. Md. Idris Sharrif (2016--2018)

Dr. Serin Kuriakose (2019-2022)

Dr Gunjan Jha (2022 -Continuing)

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Spice Route Launch: WONCA SAR Kathmandu 2010 by Prof Richard Roberts

Spice Route First Pre Conference Mumbai 2011

SPICE ROUTE held its first pre-conference at the occasion of the WONCA South Asia/FFPAI (Federation of Family Physicians’ Associations of India) conference held in collaboration with the AFPI (Academy of Family Physicians of India (www.afpionline.com), in Mumbai on 16th December 2011. There was active participation from approximately 80 new and future family/general practitioners from India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.