Review of Implementation of the Family Adoption Programme in Undergraduate Medical Education in India: A Narrative Synthesis of Literature and Institutional Practice

The Family Adoption Programme (FAP), introduced by the National Medical Commission, aims to strengthen community orientation in undergraduate medical education in India by assigning students to families for sustained, longitudinal engagement. This initiative fosters social accountability, encourages real-world clinical exposure and aligns with national goals for competency-based medical education. This narrative review synthesises findings from national guidelines, 26 peer-reviewed studies and in-depth faculty insights across five Indian states – Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Kerala, Assam and Delhi. The analysis explores implementation models, educational outcomes and systemic barriers to provide a comprehensive understanding of the FAP’s evolving landscape. The findings not only reveal a common framework of phased student induction, mentor-guided fieldwork and community linkage but also underscore significant variations in institutional strategies, logistical preparedness and student readiness. Faculty narratives highlighted challenges such as transport constraints, insufficient field support, student–family ratio mismatch and workload imbalances, alongside innovations in risk assessment, digital tools and interprofessional collaboration. The review concludes that while FAP reflects the ideals of socially accountable medical education and training, its long-term impact depends on strong institutional ownership, phased implementation, adequate logistic support, structured assessment systems and strong national-level and institutional-level governance system. These insights aim to inform stakeholders, medical college administration and policymakers working to ensure that the programme delivers both meaningful community engagement for universal health coverage and family medicine-oriented future doctors for the country.