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Who is a Doctor?
The best doctor is the one you run to and can't find ~ Denis Diderot
A doctor is a trained medical professional who diagnoses, treats, and helps prevent illnesses and injuries. They play a vital role in keeping people healthy by offering expert care and guidance. Doctors often specialise in areas like surgery, internal medicine, paediatrics, or psychiatry. To become a doctor, one must go through years of rigorous study, including medical school and practical training.
More than just treating diseases, doctors care deeply about their patients’ well-being and work to improve lives through health promotion and medical innovation.
Doctor in a Nutshell
Doctors diagnose, treat, and prevent illnesses to ensure patient well-being. They examine patients, prescribe medications, and create treatment plans while educating individuals on health. In India, becoming a doctor requires an MBBS degree and internship, followed by licensing. Doctors may specialise in various fields and work in hospitals, clinics, or private practices, requiring dedication and continuous learning.
Quick Facts for Doctor
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Industry
Healthcare
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Average Salary in India
₹54000
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Suitable for
Male, Female
A career as a doctor is suitable for everyone regardless of gender. Whether a person is male, female, or belongs to any other gender, he or she can opt for a career as doctor. An Individual's gender does bring any hindrance to career growth. Good communication skills and compassion to heal patients with accurate treatment are required in a career as a doctor.
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Any special needs
Yes
Candidates with special needs should not opt for a career as a doctor. The profession of a medical doctor, he or she often requires standing for long hours to perform surgery and assess patients. An eye for detail is crucial in this career to diagnose, examine and identify signs or symptoms of a disease.
Table of Contents for Doctor
What is the role of Doctor?
Doctors are essential to the preservation and advancement of human health. They provide patients with preventive care, administer medications, and diagnose ailments. In addition to their medical knowledge, doctors educate and assist patients emotionally, enabling them to make well-informed decisions about their health. They work together with medical teams, participating in research and keeping up with the latest developments in medicine.
A trustworthy patient-doctor relationship is fostered by their dedication to ethical standards, empathy, and ongoing learning, which promotes general well-being and the advancement of medical science. A career as a doctor is quite challenging as well, with several work attributes coming into the picture daily, some of which are given below.
A doctor is responsible for diagnosing, examining, and identifying disorders, diseases, illnesses, and injuries of patients
The role involves prescribing adequate medicine dosage and therapies to patients.
He or she advises patients on dietary and lifestyle changes for early recovery and is responsible for checking on patients for their progress.
A doctor is responsible for assisting other medical professionals in complex cases depending on their area of specialisation.
The role of a doctor is to perform surgeries on patients with various disorders, diseases, and injuries.
Types of a Doctor
There are numerous types of a doctor possessing specialisation in a certain specific organ. Apart from a general physician, aspiring candidates can also opt post-graduation programme in a certain speciality to opt for specialised doctors with the following mentioned job roles below.
Optometrist: An optometrist is a physician who specialises in the treatment of eyes. He or she is responsible for diagnosing eyes and detecting problems that affect vision. It may include signs of injury, ocular diseases, abnormality, and other problems with general health. An optometrist prescribes corrective lenses and provides medicinal and therapeutic treatment.
ENT Specialist: An ENT specialist is a physician who specialises in the ear, nose, throat, sinus, and neck. He or she is responsible for diagnosing, examining, identifying, and treating disorders, diseases, and injuries that affect the fundamental functions of life. It includes hearing and balance, swallowing and speech, breathing, and sleep. An ENT specialist provides surgical, medicinal and therapeutic treatment to patients.
Dentist: A dentist is a healthcare professional who specialises in oral health. He or she is responsible for removing tooth decay, filling cavities, fixing fractured teeth, and treating gums-related problems such as gingivitis, pyorrhea, and periodontal disease. A dentist uses a variety of equipment to examine the mouth and provide surgical as well as therapeutic care.
Cardiologist: A cardiologist is a physician who specialises in cardiology. Cardiology involves the study and treatment of diseases and conditions of the cardiovascular system. A cardiovascular system consists of the heart and blood vessels. He or she is responsible for treating heart rhythm disorders, coronary artery disease, heart attacks, heart defects, infections and other related disorders.
Pulmonologist: A pulmonologist specialises in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases, disorders and other illnesses of the human respiratory system. The human respiratory system consists of lungs and other organs that provide support for breathing. He or she is responsible for treating flu and pneumonia that may have effects on your lungs, upper airways, thoracic cavity, and chest wall.
Pathologist: A pathologist is a medical professional who specialises in diagnosing fluid produced by the human body. He or she performs tests in the laboratory. A pathologist provides support to other healthcare professionals in the diagnosis of the medical condition of a patient. Hence, he or she plays a crucial role in providing accurate treatment to patients.
Psychiatrist: A psychiatrist is a physician who specialises in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mental, emotional, behavioural and substance use disorders. He or she is responsible for treating mental conditions such as schizophrenia, depression, bipolar disorder, eating disorders and addiction.
Clinical Psychologist: A clinical psychologist is a medical professional who specialises in abnormal psychology. He or she applies psychological therapies and procedures to provide support to clients in recovering from various problems. It includes depression, addiction, anxiety, neurological disorders, mental ill-health, challenging behaviour, and learning disabilities.
What is the workplace/work environment of Doctor like?
Doctors usually work in dynamic, fast-paced settings, whether they are in private practices, hospitals, or clinics. High levels of concentration, commitment, and flexibility are required in the workplace to manage a variety of medical issues. It's typical to work long hours, including weekends and night shifts. Maintaining current knowledge of medical advancements, learning continuously, and collaborating with healthcare professionals are essential.
While treating patients' ailments and making important decisions, doctors may encounter emotional difficulties. Good communication skills are necessary in this setting to engage with patients, coworkers, and support personnel. For many doctors, the gratifying nature of assisting others and the intellectual stimulation in the medical field outweigh the hard nature of the profession.
Does Doctor require travelling?
Not Likely
No, a career as a doctor does not require traveling on a regular basis. A doctor may often be required to travel to participate in medical seminars and attend meetings with other medical professionals.
Employment Shifts
Full Time, Hourly Basis, On Call
The employment shift of a doctor varies depending on the schedule of healthcare facilities such as hospitals or clinical lab settings. A career as a doctor comes with various types of employment opportunities. One may own a private clinic and consult patients directly. In an emergency, a doctor may also prescribe medicines on call. Doctors who work on a full-time basis in hospitals may require to work in rotational shifts.
Employment Nature
Contractual, Permanent
An individual in the doctor career path may find employment opportunities on both contractual as well as permanent basis. A doctor can work in multiple healthcare or hospital settings on an hourly basis. He or she may own a private clinic to provide consultation for fixed hours on specific weekdays. An individual with a doctor career in India may work on a full-time basis and provide services in healthcare services.
Work Place
hospitals, clinical lab, healthcare facility
A doctor can work with multiple healthcare facilities and provide services on an hourly basis to each facility.
Presence in Geographical Area
Semi-urban, Urban
New Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Pune provide alluring career opportunities to doctors. A doctor working in New Delhi earns 45 per cent more than the national average salary of a doctor. Similarly, a doctor providing services in Bengaluru earns 15 per cent more than the national average salary. Rural areas stay deprived of medical facilities due to less awareness of health issues and travel accommodations.
Time Pressure
Likely
A career as a doctor involves working under frequent time pressure. It requires time to diagnose, examine and identify signs or symptoms of a certain disease or disorder. Individuals in the doctor's career path are required to interact with patients to acknowledge their health problems. There is a certain course of medications and therapies for a specific period of time. It takes time to recover patients through surgical, therapeutic, or medicinal treatment.
Overtime Details
An individual in the doctor's career path may often be required to work overtime. He or she may be required to consult emergency cases that arrive at the last minute or last working hour. A doctor's career in India is considered one of the compassionate professions. His or her work ethic does not allow him to neglect emergency cases, no matter how late it is.
Weekly Hours of Work
Min 45 Hours
Individuals in the doctor career in India working full-time with a healthcare facility works a minimum of 45 hours a week. Working hours may vary depending on the workplace and its functioning schedule.
How to become a Doctor?
Steps to become a Doctor
Pursuing a career as doctor takes years of dedicated studying and also one of the most prestigious and rewarding career in India. If you are willing to become a Doctor, you must follow specific steps. below, we have mentioned few steps that you should follow to know how to become a Doctor. Read the complete article to know What is a Doctor and how to become a doctor after 12th.
What are the skills and qualities required to become a/an Doctor?
Medical aspirants often ask how to become a doctor in India. There is a required set of skills that a doctor's career requires. We have mentioned below several skills that are crucial in a career as a doctor. Here, we have discussed how to become a doctor in India.
Medical knowledge: Medical knowledge is fundamental for doctors as it forms the basis of accurate diagnosis, effective treatment planning, and informed decision-making. A strong foundation in medical sciences enables physicians to understand complex conditions, stay updated on advancements, and provide optimal care, ensuring the well-being of their patients.
Teamwork: A doctor is required to perform efficiently and effectively in a team. He or she is required to provide medical assistance and coordinate with other surgeons while performing surgeries that relate to their area of speciality. They might also need to work in teams when it comes to treating patients with multiple illnesses or during health camps.
Communication skills: A doctor must possess strong communication skills. He or she is required to listen carefully to his or her patients when they describe symptoms and her related to problems to identify the disease. A doctor is required to prescribe necessary medications and precautions to be taken by patients.
Organising skills: A doctor meets multiple patients and listens to their problems in his or her working day. He or she is required to prescribe medications to each patient after diagnosing the disease and its level or effect on patients. He or she is required to manage time and schedule appointments for consulting patients.
Ethical decision-making: Ethical decision-making is crucial for doctors as it ensures patient welfare, maintains trust, and upholds the integrity of the medical profession. Doctors face complex situations requiring moral judgement, such as treatment choices, confidentiality, and end-of-life decisions. Adhering to ethical principles ensures the highest standard of care and fosters a patient-centred approach.
Which certifications and internships can be helpful in becoming Doctor?
Several degrees, certificates and internships are proved to be important in the career of a doctor. We have provided below certification courses for aspiring individuals who want to opt for a career as a doctor or other related medical careers to upgrade their skills and knowledge.
Internship Availability
Internships are mandatory for individuals enrolled in medical programmes. Students enrolled in the M.B.B.S. programmes are required to opt for a rotational residency programme for twelve months. After successful completion of a post-graduate programme, candidates are required to undergo a residency programme in any of the related fields.
Candidates must apply to programmes in hospitals. During the residency programme, the physician-in-training works under the supervision of licensed medical professionals. The duration of the residency programme may range from two to seven years depending on the speciality chosen for the postgraduate programme.
Doctor Jobs and Salaries
Junior Doctor
- Average Salary 33000
Job Description
The Junior Doctor job description includes assessing a patient's symptoms, diagnosing illnesses, injuries or any diseases and doing tests on patients. A Junior Doctor plans and prepares a course of treatment and recommends a suitable specialised Doctor if a particular case does not come under his or her specialisation.
Salary Description
An entry-level Doctor's salary in India ranges between Rs 0.3 Lakhs to Rs 10.3 Lakhs with an average annual salary of Rs 4.0 Lakhs per annum. Junior Doctor salary in India may vary depending on the various job factors like skills and experience of the candidates, job location, and others.
Salary Source: AmbitionBox
Senior Doctor
- Average Salary 75000
Job Description
The Senior Doctor job description includes providing diagnosis, treatment, or counselling to patients. A Senior Doctor performs surgeries, promotes health education, and discusses and evaluates new pharmaceutical products with pharmaceutical representatives.
Salary Description
The estimated Doctor salary in India ranges from Rs 2.2 Lakhs to Rs 18.0 Lakhs with an average annual salary of Rs 12.1 Lakhs per annum. Senior Doctor salary may vary depending on the various job factors.
Salary Source: AmbitionBox
What is the job outlook for Doctor?
The doctor career in India is competitive at an entry-level one. To take up the role of doctor, candidates are required to complete an M.B.B.S. programme after which aspiring are required to undergo a residency programme of a minimum duration of two years to acquire a licence to provide independent medical care and consultation services to patients to restore their health.
Doctors can also opt for an entrepreneurial role and can also opt for postgraduate degree programmes M.S. or M.D. right after the successful completion of an M.B.B.S. programme. They may specialise in anatomy, cardiology, neurology, or other related specialisations. They can own a clinic to provide consultation services to patients.
Several doctors work full-time with healthcare facilities while several doctors provide services on an hourly basis in healthcare facilities. The ratio of doctors and patients in India was 1.34 per 1000 patients in 2017. According to WHO, the norm 1:1000 doctor population ratio is considered in stringent attrition criteria.
Frequently Asked Questions for Doctor
Que. What is the average salary offered to candidates after successful completion of an M.B.B.S. programme?
Ans.The salary varies depending on skills and experience. Employers prefer to hire candidates with prior work experience. Thus, internships play a crucial role in getting a full-time job role. The average salary offered to fresh graduates of the M.B.B.S. programme ranges from Rs. 500,000 to Rs. 1,200,000 per annum.
Que. What is the average fee of M.D. (Doctor of Medicine) programme?
Ans.The fee varies depending on institutes and specialisations opted for an M.D. programme. Government colleges charge an economic fee on the other hand private colleges charge a hefty fee. The average fee for an M.D. in a cardiology programme ranges from Rs. 42,000 to Rs. 1,200,000 per annum.
Que. What is the difference between an M.S. (Master of Surgery) and M.D. (Doctor of Medicine) programme?
Ans.The M.S. programme is a postgraduate-level clinical degree programme that specialises in the surgical care of patients. On the other hand, an M.D. programme is a postgraduate level clinical programme which specialises in non-surgical treatment of patients. There are several branches where surgery is adapted as a part of M.D. programme. The minimum eligibility to opt for such programmes requires successful completion of an M.B.B.S. programme.
Que. What is the average fee of an M.B.B.S. programme?
Ans.The fee varies according to the institution. Government colleges charge an economic fee amount. On the other hand, private colleges charge a hefty fee. The duration of an M.B.B.S. programme is five and half years including rotating internships. The average fee of the programme ranges from Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 500,000 per annum.
Que. What is a residency programme in medical?
Ans.Medical students are required to opt for a residency programme after successful completion of an M.B.B.S., M.D., or M.S. programme to establish a career as a doctor. The duration of the residency programme may range from two to seven years. Candidates are required to perform medical or clinical practice under the supervision of a senior practitioner or doctor.
Que. What is the salary of mbbs doctor in government hospital?
Ans.A doctor's salary varies depending on skills, experience and specialisation. The salary of mbbs doctor in a government hospital ranges between Rs. 0.1 lakh to Rs. 51 lakhs per annum.
Que. What is the physician assistant course eligibility?
Ans.The minimum eligibility for opting for physician assistant, medical lab assistant or medical lab technician course is successful completion of 10+2 in physics, chemistry and biology.
Que. How to become a medical doctor?
Ans.In order to develop a career as a doctor, candidates are required to complete 10+2 in physics, chemistry and biology with an aggregate of 50 per cent marks from a recognised board. Further, they can appear in NEET and AIIMS UG entrance examination. On the basis of evaluation of candidates performance in the entrance examination, admissions are provided in the medical colleges. After successful completion of 10+2 candidates are required to opt for an M.B.B.S. programme.
Que. What are different types of doctors?
Ans.There are numerous types of doctors based on their specialisation in a certain area and method of treatment. It will be difficult to put the whole doctor careers list. In the field of medical sciences, doctor career options are not limited. The major types of doctors are as follows: Cardiologist, Pulmonologist, Neurologist, Endocrinologist, Gynaecologist, Physiotherapist, General Physician, Orthopaedic Surgeon, and Rheumatologist.
Que. What is a Doctor?
Ans.A career as Doctor is a clinical professional who provides treatments to patients. He or she diagnose their problems and prescribes the medicines to restore their health.
Que. How many years it takes to become a doctor?
Ans.If you opt for an MBBS degree, it takes five and a half years, with a one-year internship. After that, you can apply for an Indian Medical Register Certificate and can practice a career as Doctor in India.
Que. After bsc nursing course how to become a Doctor?
Ans.You need to pass the NEET Examination after your 10+2 and opt for an MBBS bachelor's degree programme and apply for Indian Medical Register Certificate to practise your career as a Doctor.
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Questions related to Doctor
Is it true that many civil servants are Engineers and Doctors?
Yes, it's true as much as the syllabus of UPSC is more humanities oriented, the truth is the toppers come from as diverse backgrounds as that of medical/engineering/commerce/science, if you look at previous year toppers then yes , you will find many medical and engineering graduates, and the eligibility criteria itself states that candidates need to pass graduation in any discipline from a recognized University, candidates in final year too are eligible to apply, they are required to attain 21 years as on 1st August of the appearing year, and you will also find medical science and engineering as optional subjects, though in later case the choices may be limited, but eventually what matters for every successful candidate is their single minded focus, dedication and perseverance which help them sail through this tough exam.
Answer laterWhether doctors will not get atleast 2 weekends off a month?
Hello,
Your question is a bit unclear please specify it in what context you are trying to ask.
Doctors have duties in various departments it depends on the particular department and availability of other staff as well whether they will get an off or not.
Please try to be specific in your question it is a bit unclear to answer.
Connect again will try to help you out.
Will Doctors get paid vacations, Government Holidays, etc?
Hello Candidate,
Most of the doctors both in private as well as government sector have a specific days of the Year allotted for them in which they can take a leave off their chairs and they will not have to suffer for their payment in those vacation days. So, if you are wishing to go on a vacation or any other trip make sure that you do not extend the trips to long that it gets over the minimum leave days limit, or either your salary might get affected.
Hope you found it helpful. If you have any further queries feel free to post it here!!
Do Doctors work for 9 hours a day and for 365 day a year? Answer this professionally please?
Doctors work as when required serving mankind for all 365 days a year. You may see a doctor doing just 7 hours of duty on general OPD Days or maybe more than 10 hours, when he'll be busy with serious or emergency cases. Doctors are perhaps trained rigorously to manage this pressure and deal with situations patiently without bothering the time.
Is it true that Doctors in Tier 1 cities of India get Lakhs per month as salary?
Hello,
Doctors make a considerable amount of money.
Rural doctors make slightly more money on average than doctors practicing in big cities.
Physicians who choose to practice in the rural region faceless competitions but they can spend more time in their practices due to the larger patient base in those areas. But it is also true that though they are getting paid higher but they work longer hours on average than an urban physician
Whether a doctor is in a city or rural area they need to work for hours and get paid for that.
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Did you know?
Fact 1
Sushruta, from 600 BCE India, is called the father of surgery.
Fact 2
Dr. Anandi Joshi became India’s first woman doctor in 1886.
Fact 3
India’s doctor-patient ratio is around 1:834.
Fact 4
The Hippocratic Oath dates back over 2,500 years.
Fact 5
Over 1,500 Indian doctors died during COVID-19.
