Why are doctors running towards civil services, leaving a noble profession? Hard Work Pays Off… Seriously! Everyone says that hard work pays off, but it can feel hard to believe this when you have been putting in all the hard work in the medical profession yet seen no equal pay off in return. Should we still go for Medicine as a career? Has MBBS lost its value? To an extent, I think yes. Uncertain future, shrinking job opportunities, tough competition in medicine and challenges from the corporate world, what should an aspirant of MBBS know thoroughly before he walks into this career? Let’s discuss Suggestions to the next generation of aspiring doctors.
Career Choice
Choosing a career can be a complex and challenging process, as there are many factors to consider. Pursuing a career that you are passionate about can lead to greater job satisfaction and a more fulfilling life. The aspirants look for careers that align with their personal values and passions, skills and strengths, salary and benefits, psychosocial- satisfaction and in some cases a matrimonial value too. Are there opportunities for advancement and professional growth? Is the field growing or declining especially in current times & effect of ongoing recession on the employment prospects? Consider the hours (Inputs) you will be expected to work, the level of flexibility offered, and whether you will be able to achieve a balance between your work and personal life. While money isn’t everything, it’s important to consider whether the salary and benefits will meet your financial needs and futuristic expectations. Even if you are not seeking a degree, committing to hard work is a wise investment for your future professional aspirations. Knowing that you have put significant time and energy into your career will imbue you with a sense of confidence in your work ethic and in your capabilities more broadly. Others will respect you for the hard work you put in as well.
Medicine as Career
Becoming a doctor is considered one of the most coveted and safe career options of all times. The undeniable fact that this career option assured a job, good salary, and respect in the civil society was encouraged given the impetus to go ahead. Physicians exercise a profession which contains many intrinsic and extrinsic gratifications: intrinsic gratifications like feeling medically competent by acting accordingly, “flow” experiences in being absorbed in their medical activities, achieving good results of treatments, being able to help people in need, being a point of reference, of authority, and of trustworthiness for the patients; as for extrinsic gratifications, we consider social prestige due to their role, financial gains and profits, and positions of superiority. The spiritual side of healthcare working in the medical profession is considered a blessing, they’re chosen when work is considered as worship, visiting and taking care of the sick to alleviate their pain and suffering is a huge opportunity to earn rewards even during their paid job.
Despite many positive aspects, some intriguing questions always haunt me when I see parents nowadays struggling to get their wards into medical school through tough competitive entrance exams or by paying hefty sums in private medical colleges inside or outside the country. Is It still worth pursuing a career as a doctor especially in developing countries? From time to time, we revisit this subject to see if these values still hold true. We hope it does—and you can hold us to that view from the pandemic: stark realities, and critical choices. However, the immense struggle involved cannot be ignored either. Can’t a person with the same caliber pursuing an engineering or BA degree come out with flying careers and fair way better than a doctor? Why are we so obsessed with this career option? While the medical field offers many rewarding opportunities, it’s important to acknowledge that the medical profession is challenging, both academically and emotionally, and requires a significant investment of time, effort, and resources. Choosing a career in medicine, including pursuing an MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery) degree, is a major decision that requires careful consideration of multiple factors. Some career aspirants look thoroughly at the job outlook for the career they are considering. It is important to have a genuine interest in science and medicine.
How Many Years It Takes to Become Successful Doctor? After completing the 12th from medical stream, qualifying the competitive NEET exam, would take anywhere from 5.5 to 12 years. MBBS takes at least 5 years to complete, then you do your postgraduate studies, which take another 3 years, and if you want to do specialization, it will take another 3 years, for a total of 12 years. Some people want to go a step further and do a one-year fellowship after their super specialization. But this is not an ideal world. Competition is fierce and seats are limited, so everyone must take a one-year break to prepare for entrance exams at each stage. If you attend a government medical college, you will begin earning money right after your MBBS, during your internship, you may or may not get stipend, irony is students who passed from colleges outside state/country like Bangladesh faced lot of difficulties in completing internship in Govt Medical college, ranging from 5000 -, depending on the state. If you attend a private medical school, you will not receive a stipend for your internship. If you decide to become a Junior Resident or a CMO after completing your MBBS, you will be paid between 35-70k and 1 lakh. The same is true for your postgraduate studies; if you attend a government college, your stipend can range from 70k to 90 k. However, it varies by hospital and state.
Why are some doctors running towards civil services, leaving a noble profession?
I would appreciate a thought-provoking panel discussion and interactive session on the subject of MBBS as career choice with a few honorable successful civil services officers originally Doctors who left MBBs as career, and shifted to civil services, names like Dr Shah Faisal (central secretariat Delhi ), Dr. Sehrish Asghar, (DC Baramulla) Dr. Piyush Singla- (Admin Secretary Revenue);Dr Basharat Qayum, Deputy Commissioner, Pulwama who are doing very well in civil service positions. Pending that my take on this is as follows-From my batch in college, there’s nobody that I’m aware of who has taken the civil service examination. What has changed over the years? Noble profession. Yes. By name, it still is a noble profession. But does society really look at it that way? Civil services provide a leadership high which can bring change to society and country.
The primary reason would be job stability. Hard efforts and result job security, next is career settlement. After a grueling 5.5 years, they are asked to give the hardest competitive exam like NEET to get a Post graduate seat. Even if somehow, they manage to get it, they must grind their grey matter off for 12-20 hours per day over a period of three years. In my college at AIIMS, a neurosurgeon or orthopaedician sleeps in their room once a week, if they are lucky. For the first 6 months, they work for anywhere between 18-21hours per day without leave. In fields like medicine and surgery, even after post-graduation, they want to pursue super specialization in an increasingly competitive environment. Getting into these courses is extremely difficult and excruciatingly painful. If you get selected with 12th class in MBBS, with internship in PG, and with PG in super specialisation, you have spent 13 years of your life and you are already in your thirties and still a student. And lastly, some are genuinely interested in public service which they think that they will not be able to perform without getting into civil services.
You put in all the efforts at one go (over a period of almost 1–2 years) and if you manage to crack, you’re in a permanent central government job. In fact, this is the best government job I can think of. You’ve a stable permanent job, respect, power and you are paid well. Alongside, you get a pretty house to stay in! Says Roman Saini, Co-Founder, Unacademy. Post graduation is a temporary job. This is the biggest disadvantage. There’s no system of campus recruitment. Doctors are getting frustrated at being at the mercy of corporates. The problem with medical these days is the disproportionate UG-PG seat ratio, hence everyone will not get a seat in PG. Assuming they get a seat too, at the end of 3 years, you need to try for senior residency or DM (which is another stressful all India examination). I see no end to struggle till one is well into their late 20s (29-30) and even early 30s. Arguably society will blame you for wasting a MBBS seat, but careerists don’t pay heed to this. Prepare well and become an IAS, or KAS. And they are right to do so.
Power of Positivity
While the medical field offers many rewarding opportunities, it’s important to acknowledge that the medical profession is challenging, both academically and emotionally, and requires a significant investment of time, effort, and resources. It is important to have a genuine interest in science and medicine, as well as strong communication and interpersonal skills. MBBS is not what your NEET UG teachers portray it to be. It’s not the end, it’s just the beginning of a never-ending struggle that you have yourself decided to pursue. Additionally, it is important to consider the financial implications of pursuing an MBBS degree. Medical school can be expensive and may require significant student loan debt, not all are lucky to get admitted in State run medical schools However, there are/were also many financial benefits to pursuing a career in medicine, such as a high earning potential and job security if you are lucky to be at right place at right time with right credentials.
Ultimately, the decision to pursue an MBBS degree and a career in medicine should be based on a thoughtful assessment of your personal interests, strengths, and career goals. It may be helpful to speak with healthcare professionals and current medical students to gain a better understanding of the profession and its demands. If you have a genuine interest in medicine and helping people and are willing to commit to the rigorous training and education required to become a doctor and succeed in this challenging field. Medicine still figures in top career choices, a blessed profession with an opportunity to make a positive impact on patients’ lives, can be immense, then pursuing an MBBS degree may be a good choice for you.
(Dr. Fiaz Maqbool Fazili is a Sr. Consultant Surgeon, an Expert in Healthcare (Hospital) Policy planning. He can be approached at [email protected])
