The Harsh Truth of Being a Doctor in India | Dr. Anuj Pachhel

Summary

In this video, the speaker reflects on the reality of becoming a doctor in India in 2025, highlighting the immense pressures, sacrifices, and challenges involved. He shares personal experiences, detailing the grueling educational journey from NEET preparation to the struggles of medical college, internships, and PG training. Despite his love for the profession, he emphasizes the toll it takes on mental health, time, and personal life. The speaker expresses concerns about the future of the medical profession in India, particularly with increasing competition and underpayment, ultimately questioning if he would want his children to follow the same path.

Takeaways

• 😀 Medical profession in India comes with extreme mental pressure, starting from 10th grade and intensifying through NEET and medical school.
• 😀 The pressure to pursue a medical career is overwhelming, with many students following the path due to societal expectations rather than genuine interest.
• 😀 Studying for NEET involves a lot of rote learning, often leading to concepts that are never applied in real medical practice.
• 😀 Mental health struggles are common among medical students, with many experiencing burnout and anxiety due to constant competition.
• 😀 Medical education in India, including MBBS and specialization, takes years, delaying career start and financial independence compared to other fields.
• 😀 Long working hours during residency, including 24-36 hour shifts, leave medical students with little to no work-life balance.
• 😀 The pay during internship is very low (around ₹10,000-18,000 per month), especially compared to peers in other professions who earn more and start their careers earlier.
• 😀 Specialization in medicine may not always align with personal passion, as financial pressures push students toward more marketable fields.
• 😀 Despite finishing MD or MBBS, many doctors end up underpaid and overworked in corporate hospitals, where they focus on generating revenue rather than patient care.
• 😀 As a parent, the speaker would discourage their child from pursuing a medical career in India due to the high sacrifices and poor work-life balance, despite personal satisfaction in being a doctor.

Q & A

Why does the speaker suggest that they wouldn't want their child to become a doctor in the future?

The speaker highlights the immense pressures, long training periods, and sacrifices involved in the medical profession in India. They feel that the profession's rewards are not proportional to the time, effort, and mental toll it requires, especially when compared to other fields.

What does the speaker mention about the competition for medical seats in India?

The speaker notes that the competition to get into medical schools in India is becoming extreme, with increasing numbers of candidates appearing for exams like NEET every year. Despite the rising number of aspirants, the actual demand for doctors is limited.

What are the concerns the speaker has about the subjects taught in medical coaching classes?

The speaker criticizes the teaching of subjects like chemistry, physics, and the anatomy of non-human organisms (e.g., cockroaches and frogs), which they feel are irrelevant to the actual medical practice. They argue that this creates unnecessary stress and wastes time that could be spent learning more relevant information.

What is the speaker’s view on the mental pressure experienced by medical students?

The speaker emphasizes the extreme mental pressure, unhealthy competition, and peer pressure medical students face. They describe the stress during the preparation for exams, such as NEET and subsequent medical exams, which can lead to emotional distress and even tears.

How does the speaker describe life as an MBBS student?

Life as an MBBS student is described as very challenging, with constant worry about exams, tests, and attendance. The speaker mentions that it can feel isolating as students often spend their time studying while others in different fields are living more balanced lives.

What does the speaker say about the transition from MBBS to internship and specialization?

The speaker mentions that after completing MBBS, students face the pressure of deciding on a specialty, which can be a difficult and uncertain process. They also express that during the internship and later residency, medical professionals often feel disconnected from their personal lives due to the demanding schedule.

What are the financial aspects discussed by the speaker in relation to medical training?

The speaker discusses the low financial rewards during various stages of medical training, such as the minimal stipend during internships and residency. They compare this with other professions, where individuals may earn better salaries with fewer years of training.

How does the speaker compare the experience of being a doctor in India versus other countries like the USA?

The speaker contrasts the harsh and overworked conditions of Indian doctors with those in the USA, where doctors in similar positions seem to have more manageable schedules and better work-life balance. They express frustration with the lack of work-life balance in India.

Why does the speaker think that the number of doctors in India will continue to rise?

The speaker points to the increasing number of medical colleges and seats in India, which is creating a surplus of doctors. Despite the growing number of doctors, they argue that there aren't enough opportunities to provide meaningful work for all of them.

What is the speaker’s opinion on the future prospects of doctors in India?

The speaker believes that the future for doctors in India is bleak. With increasing competition, low pay, and excessive stress, they predict that the medical profession will face a decline, similar to what happened to engineering in the past.