Læknaneminn - 01.04.1997, Side 17

Education in family and community health in a developing country: The Sultanate of Oman
other in a more detailed written form. The format used
ls the patient-centred case presentation model which
has been developed at the University of Western Omt-
ario Canada8. Parallell to these aforementioned acti-
vities there are others which make the student more
able to arrive at a balanced clinical diagnosis in terms
of physical, psychological and social factors. An in-
troduction is given to the technique of video-taped role
playing exploring the proper use of communicative
skills. Still another skill emphasised is searching the
medical literature in the library settings.
During the senior clerkship, apart from further tra-
ining in family medicine, the student elaborates more
on community aspects of primary health care. They
spend a few weeks in a local health centre working in
groups, identifying a community health problem for
which they propose a solution.
Given the widespread and global patient dissatisfact-
ion2 (Oman inclusive) the effort given by the FAMCO
faculty in presenting the students with a patient-cen-
tred approach has been much appreciated by the stu-
dents. This is partly reflected by the great number of
postgraduates wishing to join the FAMCO residency
program (usually double the number FAMCO can
accommodate!).
FAMCO - THE RESIDENCY PROGRAM
Family medicine has been recognised as one of the
specialties to be provided for by the Omani Medical
Speciality Board. Each residency programme covers a
period of four years, ending with a Board Exam. At the
time of writing FAMCO is interviewing the present
applicants. Sofar 25 residents have joined the FAMCO
programme.
Oman still wrestles with the organisation of prima-
ry health care for the future, more particularly to what
extent it will be on a private versus public basis. In light
of the increasing fmancial constraints of most govern-
mental budgets,(also an increasing problem in the Gulf
states), the Omani government seems to be intent on
advocating family doctors working to a rather large
extent on a private basis.
THE FAMCO EXPERIENCE
The author has been a member of the FAMCO
faculty since 1990 and it has been challenging to part-
icipate in the making of a new medical school. 1990
coincided with the intake of the first batch in the clin-
ical clerkship, which now is half way through its res-
idency programs.
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