In this article, we are discussing what it really to be a doctor in India and what are the various problems faced by young doctors and health professionals.

In the last slide, we discussed that it takes more than a decade for a doctor/health professional to be fully qualified as a specialist. By this time the individual is nearing thirties and has already crossed. Barring a few most of the doctors at this point in their career and life go through a professional confusion. They see their other friends who had opted for engineering and management courses doing well for themselves while the doctors are still struggling to make a mark. Every doctor or health professional has

• dedicated all the long years of studying (around 14 years in total),
• insufficient pay in comparison to others & difficult conditions to work in (doctors are most susceptible to contract infectious diseases from patients)
• been staying away from home in some remote area with no essential comfort.
• got transferred from one rural area to another.
• been carrying out the duty to help others irrespective of whatever situation or emotion a doctor is in.
• been sacrificing family life and much more

And believe me, there was a time when the public (wealthy and poor) respected the doctors. They understood and appreciated the fact that someone is willing to stay in their remote, undeveloped locality to provide them the health care.

But sadly, in my last 15 years of career as a Govt. doctor, I have seen this respect now been kicked into the ground. The appreciation has reduced to none.

The patients do not give a hoot about the efforts a doctor is putting.

They do not care if a physician has left all the comforts of a comfortable private hospital and has decided to help them by being at their remote location.

Whatever a doctor may do, the patient just thinks that we are doing it for money.

And as for money, we have very little compared to the work & sacrifices we do every day.

The appreciation and respect were the only two points driving many doctors like me.

But, those points are long gone.

Do not Scare Away the Young Talented Doctors who want to Help

I may be in the middle of my career but think about the young doctors who have just started their career as physicians. They are eager to serve the public, but they are also the most vulnerable ones.

If they keep seeing public attacking doctors, making fun of them and belittling their dignity, then that day won’t be far when no talented young doctor will be willing to join Govt. job or private job and serve people in the remote areas of India. 

And do not expect the established senior doctors who are doing well in the cities to come to your rescue.

Dear public, only a young talented doctor who is willing to make his/her mark as a medical practitioner will be eager to come to a rural or remote area.

So, it is in best interests of the general public to treat such young doctors with respect so that more and more young doctors will be motivated to join the Govt. or private Service and provide health care to remote areas/villages in India.

If doctors keep getting attacked, job or no job, no doctor will be ready to serve the public.

In that way:

Yes, this change is not going to happen overnight. But every change is always gradual.

Neither public or the Govt. should take doctors for granted.

I have seen and felt a growing dissent among young doctors.

They question me why to take so much stress, sir? What’s the point when we are scared someone will beat us up anytime within the hospital and go scot-free? What if we damage our limbs in the attack?

I can see the fear creeping into the minds of these young doctors!

But every day they fight this fear, wear their apron and reach the hospital to help the public.

That’s what doctors and health professionals do.

I end this article with an appeal to help and support young doctors.