Membership

AFPI is the representative specialty/ academic body of largest number of practicing doctors in India. AFPI represents all primary care doctors namely family medicine specialists, family physicians, general practitioners, medical officers in government service, family medicine faculty who constitute almost 80 percent of all medical doctors in India. AFPI invites all medical doctors trained/ educated/ engaged/ interested in family medicine/ general practice/ primary care. AFPI offers academic as well as professional development platform to all doctors within the domain of family medicine and primary care.

Membership eligibility criteria
(Refer to Appendix I for eligibility)
Given the developing status of family medicine specialty / discipline in India, Life Membership is open to medical doctors based on two criteria (i) by qualification (ii) by experience. Any person qualified to be a Life Member may enroll as a Life Member of AFPI after paying onetime non‐refundable fee. Persons otherwise eligible to be admitted as Life Members but who are not citizens of India may be admitted as International member.

Foundation principle of membership
Family Medicine is the practicing discipline of majority Indian doctors. The basic licensing qualification for starting family practice in India is MBBS and registration with the medical council. As a foundation principle of AFPI all primary care doctors must be given an equal opportunity for career development at par with any hospital based specialist both in terms of professional as well as academic domains. Therefore AFPI supports full time post graduate qualification for all practicing primary care doctors (family medicine specialist/ general practitioners/ family physicians/ medical officers / family medicine faculty etc). It is encouraged that all life members should hold full time post graduate qualification in family medicine.

Why membership
Membership privileges

• Member of general body
• Right to vote
• Right to propose or second any one for any office of the Governing Body
• Right to hold any nominated post appointed by the governing body
• Participate in all activities of AFPI
• Discounted registration fee (10%) at all AFPI International/ National/ State/ Local CME/ CPD events
• Eligibility for AFPI Accredited Clinic Certification

The Society provides

• Facilities to students, scholars and institutions for the study of or Research in Family Medicine in any of its aspects by way of scholarships, fellowships, grants, endowments, etc.
• Either through itself or in cooperation with other bodies or persons fellowships, prizes, certificates, diplomas of proficiency in the science of Family Medicine and conduct such tests, examinations or other scrutiny as may be prescribed from time to time.
• Free of cost or at subsidized cost its official journals, books, periodicals or publications on Family Medicine and allied subjects which the society thinks is desirable for the promotion of its objects.
• Opportunity to its member to participate in Conferences, Lectures, Meetings, Seminars, Symposia, Workshops, Continuing Medical Education Programs, etc.
• Opportunity to become members of its Branches / Special Interest Chapters / Groups / Cells / Committees.
• Opportunity for international exchange programs
• Opportunity for participation in International Conferences
• Institutional membership of WONCA (World Organization of Family Doctors)
• Opportunity for travel scholarship / awards/ research grants
• Medico legal advice on family practice

Categories of Membership
(Refer to Appendix I for eligibility)

1. Life Members: Life membership is open only to Indian citizen

2. Life Associate Members: A person holding graduate (MBBS or international equivalent) qualification or post‐graduate degree or diploma recognized by the Medical Council of India in any branch of medical science who is not eligible for life membership (as stated above) shall be enrolled as a Life Associate Member. Life Associate Members shall have no voting rights, nor the rights to propose, second any one or contest for any office of the Governing Body.

3. Honorary Members: The Governing Body may admit a person, who in their judgment is a renowned clinician as an Honorary Member. The proposal for Honorary membership should be made by two Life Members of AFPI. The proposal should reach the Head Office by 30th June of the year. This decision shall be communicated to all the members of AFPI through JAFPI.

4. Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) / Membership International Membership: Any physician legally licensed to practice in his/ her own country and with training in family medicine shall be admitted to the academy as an international member. Non Resident Indians and persons of Indian origin currently practicing outside India shall also fall in this category. International members shall have neither voting rights nor the right to propose or second any person for any post or hold any elected post of the academy.

5. Student Membership (MBBS only): Any MBBS student/ intern studying in India can apply for student membership of AFPI and shall be eligible to participate in the Student Chapter of AFPI and also eligible to participate in international junior doctor groups activities on the behalf of AFPI. The membership shall be valid for a period of five years after passing of MBBS, after which he/ she must upgrade to any of the life membership category. Those have already completed MBBS internship are not eligible for this category and are advised to apply for life membership. Members of this category shall be provided career guidance in family medicine.

6. Patrons Any corporate body or an individual donating (an amount as decided by the Governing Body from time to time) Rs.10,00,000/‐ (Rupees Ten Lakhs) can, at the discretion of the Governing Body, be enrolled as a Patron of the Academy. Patron members shall have neither voting rights nor the right to propose or second any person for any post or hold any office of the Association.

7. Services Doctors: Services doctors are eligible to join AFPI membership. AFPI is recognized by DGAFM office and mentioned in the list of approved association/ society / professional body at serial no 24.22

How to apply

Membership should be applied on the prescribed membership application form (online/offline). Along with the membership form, copies of the following documents are required to be uploaded in PDF form.

• Photo copies of the M.B.B.S. & Post Graduation training Certificates as (as per degrees listed by you in your application).

• Photo copies of the degrees registration certificates with State Medical Council OR Medical Council of India (as the case may be).

• Undertaking/ self attestation for status regarding PG training/ Rural service/Senior citizen

Applications may be submitted through following three methods

• Online

Online application process is available at www.afpionline.com at the membership section. Applicants have to create a log in ID and thereafter fill the online form. Supportive documents may be uploaded along with the form. Please keep your documents ready in PDF format before proceeding to online application. Payment gateway is integrated with online application process.

• By E mail

You may also send your membership application form and supporting documents in scanned form to afpionline@live.com and transfer membership fee through your bank.

(C ) By Post
Membership form is available for downloading at www.afpionline.com. You may like to print the form duly filled and send by post to following address. A cheque or draft of requisite fee may be attached, else transferred online.

AFPI Bank Account:
Account Name: Academy of Family Physicians of India, Axis Bank Account No: 911010005128611, Branch: Janak puri (ID 207) New Delhi India 110058, MICR Code: 110211023 IFSC Code: UTIB0000207 SWIFT Code AXISINBB20, You may also send your membership application form, in scanned form to afpionline@live.com and transfer fee through your bank.

The Membership Fee should be paid by a crossed bank draft drawn in favor of “ACADEMY OF FAMILY PHYSICIANS OF INDIA” payable at New Delhi.

Postal address for membership application:

Dr Raman Kumar President AFPI Secretariat, 049, Crema Tower, Mahagun Mascot Crossing Repulik, Dundahera District Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh PIN 201016, INDIA

Membership helpline / status enquiry
E mail: afpionline@live.com
WhatsApp 8826-945-701

Membership Fee
The fee structure is as follows:

Till December 31st 2017

Category of Membership	Admission Fee	Membership Fee	Total
Life Member (Master/ Professional/Service Doctor/ Faculty/ Rural Service)	Rs.500/- (payable at the time of admission)	Rs 5000/-	Rs.5500/-
Life Associate Members	Rs.500/-	Rs 6000/-	Rs.6500/-
Honorary Member	Nil	Rs 5000/-	Rs.5000/-
International Member - Life	Nil	US $100 (For SAARC & Developing Countries), US $ 750 (For USA, Canada, Australia, & Europe ) US$ 250 (NRI/ PIO)
Patron – Life	Rs.500/-	Rs.10,00,000/-	Rs. 10,00,500/-
Student Membership (MBBS)		Rs 1000	Rs 1000

Membership Fee after January 31st 2017

The Membership Fee should be paid by a crossed bank draft drawn in favor of “ACADEMY OF FAMILY PHYSICIANS OF INDIA” payable at New Delhi.
Category of Membership	Membership Fee
Life Member (Master/ Professional/ Service Doctor/ Medical Faculty/ Rural Service)	Rs 9000/-
Life Associate Members	Rs 9000/-
Honorary Member	Rs 9000/-
International Member - Life	US $500 (For SAARC & World Bank Middle or Low Income Country), US $ 750 (For USA, Canada, Australia, & Europe ) US$ 500 (NRI/ PIO)
Patron – Life	Rs.10,00,000/-
Student Membership (MBBS)	Rs 1000

Discount policy (Applicable after 31st January 2018)

Only one type of discount may be availed
Post Graduate Trainees	20%	Person undergoing Post Graduate training in family medicine are eligible for 20% discount in the life membership fee. The must not have completed training duration at the time of application.
Rural/ Remote Area Discount	20%	Persons working in Rural/ Remote as defined as 30 kilometers from district headquarters. Or persons having completed compulsory rural service under government bond/ rural service within government after completion of MBBS. Only one type of discount is applicable. Persons working in all seven northeastern states of India are eligible for this discount.
Senior citizen discount	50%	Senior professionals (senior citizen) of more than age of 60 years are eligible for 50% discount

Appendix I
List of Qualifications approved by AFPI as eligibility towards Life Member

AFPI Approved Post Graduate Family Medicine Qualifications

Regular Fulltime

• DNB Family Medicine
• MD Family Medicine
• Obtained three years of DNB/MD Family Medicine Training Certificate
• MD/DNB Family Medicine – Trainee / Resident
• Indian citizen practicing in India with International Qualifications such as Collage Membership or Board Certification (a) MDGP Nepal (b) MD Colombo Sri Lanka (c) College Membership Canada/ UK/Australia/ New Zealand (d) Board Certification - USA
• MRCGP International
• PGDFM Family Medicine – CMC Vellore
• M Med FM (Masters in Family Medicine) – CMC Vellore/ MGR University
• M Sc Family Medicine - CMC Vellore, University of Edinburgh UK/ MGR University

Qualification by experience for working / practicing professionals
(Practicing family physicians/ NRHM – State – Central Government Medical Officers/ Doctor from Armed Forces Medical Services and Medical Officers from Paramilitary Forces)

Qualification by Experience

• Three years of experience in Family Practice.
• Two years of rural service ( Compulsory bond/ or with in government sector)
• Three years of service in NRHM as General Duty Medical Officers (GDMO)
• Three years service as Armed Forces Medical Services or Para Military Services as General Duty Medical Officers
• Three years service in state health services as General Duty Medical Officers
• Three years of service CGHS (Central Government Health Services)
• Three years of RMO experience in private sector

Additional Qualifications
AFPI approved additional qualifications (FM development initiative)

• MD Geriatrics
• MD Emergency Medicine
• MD Community Medicine
• MS Rural Surgery
• MD/DNB (Maternal and Child Health)
• PGDFM (Maternal Child Health) IGNOU
• PGDFM Geriatrics IGNOU
• AIFH (Associate Fellowship in Industrial Health)
• Diploma or Degree/ Palliative Care

Medical Faculty

• I -Designated faculty at (a) Department of family medicine MCI recognized medical college (b) Department of Community and Family Medicine (CFM) at AIIMS irrespective of primary specialty

• II - Guide to DNB Family medicine at a National Board of Examination affiliated training institution

• III – Any medical faculty (MCI/NBE) interested/engaged in career in Family Medicine (professional/ vocational/ academic) deemed fit to be accepted by executive body of AFPI

Medical teachers not holding any of the AFPI approved family medicine qualification will be required to complete any of the qualification listed above to be eligible to hold any elected post in AFPI Central / State Chapter governing body.

Specialist doctors (Specialties other than Family Medicine): Membership Policy
(Post graduate degree / diploma in any specialty other than qualifications listed above) with MBBS qualification are eligible for Life Associate Membership only.