The Doctor is the only professional that is considered next to God by the patients he cures. The body of a living being is the most sophisticated as well as the simplest working machine on this earth. Like any other man-made machine this also gets wear and tear and needs repairs at times. And the person who is apt to repair this machine is known as Vaid/Hakim or Medicine Doctor in today’s parlance.
There was a time when this noblest work was considered a service to mankind and its creator. This was not at all considered as a profession. But with the passing of time and the materialization of anything and everything this noble service has also taken the shape of a profession. But even then the doctor at least in this part of the world are considered next to God. This is still considered the noblest profession in the world in spite of its losing some of its respect because of the misdeeds of some of its fraternity members. Although a huge fee is charged for saving and curing the creation of God still most of this fraternity members consider it as their obligation to do justice to their duty with utmost care and honesty leaving some inhumane ones.
With the changed living conditions, lifestyles, and high-stress levels there has been an increase in the diseases and ailments affecting the large population all over the world and especially the third world including the Indian subcontinent, thereby making the role of a doctor even more important in today’s context.
Besides this, with approx. 75 million diabetes patients in India in a couple of decades and several million suffering from changed lifestyle diseases like hypertension and cancer, communicable diseases like AIDS, dengue, tuberculosis, and malaria, India is set to fight a battle against these diseases for which it will require a large and efficient team of dedicated doctors. So there is a good scope for today’s younger generation to make their carrier in medicine to claim not only good monetary fortunes but also high respect in society.
Now the big question is which of the following way of treatment one believes and wants to follow as his profession.
Allopathic Doctor
Allopathy is considered one of the fastest ways to cure an ailment and is followed religiously worldwide. A practitioner of this method of treatment is known as a Medicine doctor, MBBS doctor, or Allopathic doctor.
Course: MBBS - Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery
Ayurvedic Doctor
Ayurveda is highly acclaimed and considered as the oldest to be used in the treatment of the human body at least in some of the world’s oldest civilizations like India and China. A practitioner of this method of treatment is known as an Ayurvedic doctor, Vaids, or Ayurveda.
Course: BAMS Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery
Homeopathic Doctor
Homeopathy is considered to be the best for uprooting chronic ailments and that too till the concluding end i.e. forever. This is the only way of treatment that is considered to be free from any kind of side effects. Although considered to be a slow process of treatment by some it is totally a fallacy according to its practitioners. Infect they considered it as one of the fastest if administered properly. A practitioner of this method of treatment is known as a homeopath or Homeopathic doctor. Although there are couple more ways to treat the human body like “Unani” etc these three are most prevalent in the world with all their pros and cons.
Course: BHMS Bachelor of Homeopathic Medicine and Surgery
DHMS Diploma of Homeopathic Medicine and Surgery
Doctor Eligibility
To be eligible for joining the MBBS course one should be a 10+2 Class pass with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (PCB) as main subjects and for institutions with at least 60% marks.
Doctor Required Skills
- Doctors should have additional skills to have a successful career such as excellent communication skills; being able to explain difficult subject matter and displaying empathy and compassion in dealing with patients.
- They must have patience, good manual dexterity, and physical stamina to meet the demands of the profession.
- They should also be able to be self-motivated, make quick decisions in difficult situations, have strong interpersonal skills, trustworthy, and have a desire to serve patients.
How to Become a Doctor?
One has to follow the below-given subjects to become a Doctor-
Step 1
Interested candidate has to appear in an entrance test conducted by the various state and Independent bodies like PMT, taken by Punjab Government, and CBSE-PMT (pre-medical test) taken by the Central Board to admit candidates in various medical institutions attached with it according to the rank of the candidate in the entrance exam.
CBSE PMT, conducted by the CBSE, is a highly-coveted national-level entrance exam. It is conducted in two stages, the preliminary and the final exam. The exam is objective type and tests you rigorously in subjects like physics, chemistry, and biology. Since negative marking is the rule here, the test is extremely competitive.
A separate test is conducted by some of the highest-rated medical institutions like AIIMS, PGI, GMCH, AFMC Pune, etc.
These exams are generally held in the month of May-June and consist of Objective type questions on the subject of English, Physics, Chemistry; Biology through a number of questions and patterns may vary from test to test.
The results of these exams are generally out by June/July
Step 2
After completing this four and half year of MBBS Degree course in which one has to study (subjects that include anatomy, biochemistry, physiology, dermatology, obstetrics and gynecology, forensic medicine and toxicology, microbiology, pathology, pharmacology, anesthesiology, community medicine, medicine, ophthalmology, orthopedics, pediatrics, psychiatry, and surgery) and one year and six months compulsory training one can opt. for some jobs in private or state-run hospitals as a junior doctor, go for private practice after obtaining the necessary affiliation with respective medical councils or go for higher specialized studies in the respective fields.
Fees and Other Expenditures: Although varying from college to college, the total course fee for an MBBS degree ranges from anywhere from few thousand at a government college to around Rs 20 Lakhs and even higher in private institutes.
Doctor Job Description
To be a doctor requires a lot of hard work, dedication, and spirit to serve society although with some remuneration in lieu of providing its services. Besides one should have discipline, patience, commitment to excel in their respective field, and self-confidence. If you have all these qualities in you then you are fit for being a doctor as it is such a field that a mistake of yours can take a precious life and ruin a family’s fortunes.
Doctor Career Prospects
A Doctor has good career prospects both in the private sector and government sector. Starting from a Junior Doctor in a small clinic he can go up to the rank of Chief Medical Officer (CMO) and even to the post of Director of a reputed Hospital as PGI.
Doctor Salary
There is a lot of scope for those who are joining medicine as a career in the present scenario. Apart from joining a private or government hospital as a junior doctor, younger doctors can find lucrative placements with huge salaries in corporate hospitals With starting salary anywhere between Rs 15,000 to Rs 25,000 depending upon the competence of the individual doctor There is a lot of money in private practice as well and it only gets better for candidates as they win the trust of the patients and the goodwill is spread by word of mouth to attract more patients to the clinic.
With a boom in the healthcare sector, there are other areas too where medical professionals are highly in demand. MBBS doctors can find placements in hospitals like Wockhardt Hospitals which promote medical tourism.
Besides this, the emerging health insurance market, growing pharmaceutical industry, telemedicine sector, clinical research, pharmacovigilance, etc given a great opportunity to these promising and young demigods.
A couple of years of dedicated work and some experience along with a master’s degree could lead a doctor to a pay package of nearly Rs. one lacs per month. There is no upper ceiling to the earnings of a competent and capable doctor. One can also be a visiting doctor at several hospitals and charge by the hour.
