A capacity building model for primary care physicians in management of COPD and Asthma in India

India leads the world in asthma mortality and has the second largest number of deaths in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). In response to this need, Certificate Course in Management of COPD and Asthma (CCCA), a joint certification course by Public Health Foundation of India, Chest Research Foundation, Narayana Health & supported by an education grant from GSK Pharmaceuticals Pvt. Ltd. was designed & delivered Objectives: CCCA aims to enhance knowledge, skills and core competencies of PCPs to address management of COPD and Asthma Methodology: This comprehensive program is designed by a panel of 16 National Experts (NE) to train 503 Primary Care Physicians (PCPs) in 24 regional centers by Regional Faculty (RF). A robust and innovative “Program Management” has been designed to ensure quality and standardized delivery of training. Program management involves coordination with NE and RF in developing a standardized modules along with the academic partners. It is an 8 modular course with once a month contact session on designated weekends delivered by a pulmonologist at each center. The training includes judicious mix of case-studies, group discussion, assignments, activities and hands- on training A total of 503 PCP’s have enrolled in the first cycle of the program. The participants have an average clinical experience of 14 years. Over one-third of the PCP’s represent government and not-for -profit organizations,. The program aim to train more than 1000 PCPs in two years CCCA, a unique and sustainable initiative is an effort to build a trained cadre of PCPs in India and has been designed with great potential to reduce the rising burden of chronic respiratory disorders in India