The journey to becoming a doctor in India is grueling, with long working hours, immense academic pressure, and financial burdens. Dr. Sudhir Kumar, a neurologist at Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad, recently took to social media to highlight the often-overlooked struggles of medical professionals post-MBBS, sparking widespread discussion.
Challenges Faced by Medical Students and Doctors
- Intense Competition & Theoretical Learning
Securing an MBBS or postgraduate medical seat demands years of rigorous preparation. However, medical education remains largely theoretical, requiring years of hands-on practice to gain confidence in patient care. - Exhausting Residency & Poor Work-Life Balance
Residency training is physically and mentally demanding, with 24- to 36-hour shifts, over 100-hour work weeks, and overwhelming patient loads. Doctors frequently miss festivals and weekends due to night duties. - Challenging Living Conditions
Many hostels have poor hygiene, low-quality food, and inadequate facilities, making life difficult for medical students. - Financial Burden & Low Salaries
Medical education is costly, particularly in private institutions, forcing many students into long-term loan repayments. Despite the demanding workload, stipends during internships and residencies are minimal, and even after completing medical training, salaries remain modest. - High Stress & Burnout
The emotional toll of handling critical cases, coupled with excessive working hours, contributes to burnout among medical professionals.
Call for Urgent Reforms
Dr. Sudhir Kumar stressed that these challenges should not be normalized. He called for:
- Transparent and affordable MBBS education
- Improved hostel facilities and food quality
- Reduction in excessive working hours for medical residents
- Higher stipends and better salaries for junior doctors
- Strict enforcement of laws against harassment by seniors and faculty
Public Reaction & Need for Change
The post resonated widely, with many supporting urgent reforms in medical education and working conditions. Several users urged the National Medical Commission (NMC) to intervene, highlighting the need to end outdated practices like 36-hour shifts. Others pointed out the stark pay disparity between medical and engineering professionals despite the rigorous demands of medicine.
Many also advocated for stronger ties between medical colleges and corporate hospitals, improved working conditions for postgraduate students, and fairer compensation for doctors. The discussion has reignited calls for systemic change to support the well-being of India’s future healthcare providers.
