So you want to study medicine?Really?Please don't.

Author's note:
This is straight out of my journal pages, it is unpolished and very raw. My direct emotions laid out in words that was creating a turmoil in my head. You may agree or disagree. It is your choice as you have chosen to read this. My facts though quite authentic and true are lacking the evidence and proof as I have not researched on this topic. I am writing merely on experience and knowledge and on behalf of many students in the same position as I am .

When a student of class 12 tells me that their aim in life is to be a doctor, I shudder. Literally, I do. Once that is done I proceed to brainwash them to not make the biggest mistake of their life.

You must be thinking what a crazy thing to do, the world is never out of doctors, doctors are vital for our sustenance and doctors are the people who ensure our longevity yadda yadda yadda blah blah blah.

First and foremost I would like to tell you, I am a medical student. Surprised? Well don’t be. I am going to now share some facts and by the end of this article you shall have the same mindset as mine. Well, if not the same you will think twice before encouraging a poor soul to go the medical profession.

Don’t get me wrong here. I truly believe that being a doctor is one of the noblest professions ever. You get to save lives, bring about new lives, give life a greater meaning by fixing the damaged goods. Its truly Gods gift to mankind. Now the harsh reality is that I am an Indian. No, no I am a proud Indian, I do value my roots but I am not so sure about my government.

India has a Medical Council like any other country, with all the same basic functions as any other council in any other country. There are however some interesting additions. The council doesn’t really care about malpractices like feticide, unregistered surgical practitioners, unlicensed doctors etc as long as you pay them off. Bribery is so thriving here that if you have adequate money then opening up a MCI recognized college in India is no biggie at all. Yes, its pretty lenient and convenient don’t you think? This is done by politicians, most of the private medical colleges are owned by the politicians, who after looting people’s money for the betterment of the nation which after 60 years we are yet to see, think it’s funny and amusing to rob the common man more. After all this the people who pay for a seat after no other option are not even treated as the victims. Oh no, they are the wrong doers of the society. They are the ‘kalank’ for just trying to be a doctor for the society. They are treated with disrespect, with an evil eye. Is it their fault that the donation system is allowed? Is it their fault that there are too few medical colleges? Is it their fault that in a country of a population more than a billion and with approximately 7 lakh aspirants per year there are only 151 government medical colleges (I am seriously doubtful about this number however) with at the most 200 seats each? Not even half of them get the seats. And it is not due to lack of brains. A very large number miss out because of maybe a mark or so. And of course I don’t even want to get started on the reservation issue.

My point here is that private medical education is not half as bad as people think it to be. The colleges however, should not be allowed to be bought and give seats through donation. Since, this is India we are talking about, corruption being an integral part, I know the donation issue cannot be eradicated. But, just to be fair, the fees can be reduced significantly.

It is due to these high prices, a medical student after finishing the never ending degrees wishes to earn a lot. The priority shifts. After 7 to 8 years of draining their parents, it is finally their time to pay back. Now is this thought that wrong? I think it is a very considerate and legitimate thought. So if this country wants doctors with their priorities straight the government better start tackling the problem from the roots. Otherwise, I am sorry to say, money is everything and it can certainly buy anything in this country.

Another issue which I think is high time to be brought up is the brain drain. Now, if a doctor wants to leave this country and practice elsewhere a government approval is required. I have not done much research into this but if this is the case, then I would suggest all the doctors of this country to denounce themselves as Indians and search for citizenship elsewhere. What right does the Government have to butt their big heads in a personal matter? Does the Government do anything about the thousands of IITians that leave this country every year never to return after getting the ‘prestigious’ IIT degree? Arent they supposed to be India’s best? In fact the motto of the IIT’s is ‘Dedicated to the service of the nation’. How ironic.

So if they can go earn fat salaries, we deserve much more. After 5 and half years of hellish studies, the Government decides to send the doctors for rural services. I do not mind this step, after all I have to work for the people. I however absolutely refuse to work in dilapidated, unhygienic, primitive situations for 20000 a month. And if I have to then so do other professionals. Do rural areas not need roads? Do rural areas not need management? Do rural areas not need planning? Do rural areas not need houses? Are rural areas crime free that they don’t need any lawyers? Do rural areas not need teachers?

Why do only doctors have to do so? And assuming that we are the most important of all hence this great honor has been bestowed upon us, a proper salary should be given. 20000 is just ridiculous, a security guard at any gated community gets almost that much.

Now back to the original issue I was referring to, once a class 12 student decides to study medicine, he studies. A lot. Then he appears for the entrance exams. Assuming he is not that brilliant but not dumb either (which most of the population are) he doesn’t get through in the first chance. Then he goes for coaching to Kota. This costs the parents a fair amount of money for a year. He sits for the exam the next year. He is all prepared and confident. Results come out, he has missed by a mark. Due to reservation most probably. Now think for a minute, was this student undeserving? Was he under qualified? Just because of his being born into a ‘privileged’ family he does not get the privilege to get into a college. Harsh much? Anyway, moving on. The family is devastated, the student is depressed, he comes to think he is good for nothing. Seeing this, the father decides to leave no stone unturned. He makes queries to various private colleges who list their price. Apparently giving the exams for the private colleges were just a formality, didn’t guarantee seats. So after a lot of family drama and tension the poor father coughs up the amount to ensure his child gets what he wants. The child goes to medical school happily. The father though in most cases well to do still feels a financial strain with the obscenely high tuition fees. Now the student is done with MBBS and has performed well. Its time to do an MD now. The whole procedure repeats itself however this time if the student does not get a seat then the father can pay no more as the donation for pg seats is unimaginably high. However, assuming the father still pays up thinking it’s his child after all and the student finishes an MD degree as well. Now after all this which idiot will want to work in a rural area with a 20000 salary a month? WHY wouldn’t he be frustrated? Why wouldn’t he want to make money? Why would he do social service? Why? Why? Why?

So before slamming doctors for being money minded, not with the right priorities, think twice. You have no idea what their life is all about. Its easy to point out the fault of other professions. You would not want to get me started on the media people, the entertainers, the politicians, the engineers, the architects. There is not a single skilled profession in India that can be claimed free of corruption and clean. Doctors are least contributing to the society, they are at least healing people. For every bad doctor there are 100 god doctors. Do not generalize and target us. Your future lies in our hands. And if you are a politician I will sincerely ask you stay far away from me and my practice because I am held by my Hippocrates oath to help every man irrespective of their character, job, caste, creed, however my conscience will not allow me to treat evil.

Probably cause he has no balance..