Welcome to the Department of Community and Family Medicine

The Department of Community and Family Medicine is committed to achieving excellence in teaching, research, and clinical practice in the disciplines of community medicine, public health, and primary care.

The undergraduate curriculum spans all five years of the medical programme. It trains undergraduates to critically analyze health issues in their broader social context; design community medicine/ family medicine interventions to address health problems; develop skills in communication and public health management; and cultivate positive attitudes toward health promotion. The Department also functions as a training center for the MD in Community Medicine in partnership with the Post-Graduate Institute of Medicine, University of Colombo, and offers elective attachments to international medical students.

Ongoing research initiatives at the Department span a range of topics, including non-communicable diseases, nutrition, mental health, primary care, and access to health care. The Department’s academic staff members collaborate with several international institutions and organizations in the Asia-Pacific region and the United Kingdom.

The service functions of the Department include, administering the University Field Project Area in collaboration with the Office of the Regional Director of Health Services Jaffna, providing leadership for the organization of public health campaigns and other health promotion activities in the Northern Province, contributing to service provision through various community-based organizations, and designing and publishing health education material.