Study highlights rising stress, burnout and safety concerns among doctors in India
New Delhi: A recent survey of doctors across India has revealed growing concerns about stress, burnout and safety within the medical profession. The findings show that 91% of doctors are now hesitant to recommend medicine as a career to their children, while nearly half have considered leaving the profession.
The survey collected responses from over 1,200 doctors across the country and indicated that many medical professionals are experiencing significant professional pressure. These pressures include medico-legal challenges, fear of violence from patients or relatives, and a worsening work-life balance.
According to a report by The Times of India, the nationwide study was conducted by the Debabrata Mitalee Auro Foundation between January and June 2025. It surveyed 1,208 doctors from Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities working in both government and private healthcare institutions.
The findings revealed that 91.4% of doctors said they would not encourage their children to pursue medicine as a profession under the current circumstances. Additionally, 47% of the respondents admitted that they had considered leaving the profession altogether.
Burnout emerged as a major concern, with 78% of doctors reporting high levels of burnout in the past year. The study also found that 56% of respondents experienced symptoms associated with anxiety or depression.
Safety during medical practice was another major issue highlighted in the survey. Around 84% of doctors said they felt more likely than the general population to face physical or verbal assault from patients or their relatives, while 67% reported being involved in some form of medico-legal complaint.
The report also noted that 61% of doctors believe public perception of the medical profession has worsened over the past five years. Many respondents attributed this to the growing corporatisation of healthcare and increasing mistrust between doctors and patients.
Commenting on the findings, Debraj Shome, founder of the Debabrata Mitalee Auro Foundation, said the results reflect deeper systemic stress within the profession. He noted that the combination of burnout, fear of violence, and legal scrutiny is significantly altering the practice environment for doctors and raising concerns about the long-term stability of the healthcare workforce.
The study also compared its findings with global data, noting that professional stress levels among Indian doctors appear significantly higher. Researchers said the report aims to encourage discussions on reforms, including better mental health support for doctors, stronger protection against workplace violence, improved legal safeguards and efforts to rebuild trust between doctors and patients.
