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Who is a General Physician?
Our profession is the only one which works unceasingly to annihilate itself ~ Martin H. Fischer
It is a respected and rewarding career focused on caring for people’s health. As a general physician, your primary role is simple yet vital: diagnosing, treating, and preventing illnesses to help patients stay healthy. General physicians work in diverse settings—hospitals, clinics, public health centres, teaching hospitals, and private practices. If you want to practice medicine without specialising in a particular area, this career path could be the perfect fit.
In this article, we will explore what a general physician does, how to become one, available job opportunities, and whether it’s a good career choice for you.
General Physician in a Nutshell
A General Physician provides primary healthcare, diagnosing and treating various illnesses, managing chronic diseases, and offering preventive care. They educate patients and refer them to specialists when needed. In India, an MBBS degree and medical registration are required. They work in clinics, hospitals, and community centers, requiring strong clinical skills, communication, and empathy to support patient health effectively.
Quick Facts for General Physician
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Industry
Healthcare
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Average Salary in India
₹48500
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Suitable for
Male, Female
An Individual can take up a career as a general physician, it is not gender-specific. Men, women, and others can choose a career as a general physician. In India, male and female general physician enjoys equal benefits because gender is insignificant in this career.
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Any special needs
No
In a career as a general physician, you need to be detail-oriented and considerate because the treatment of a person’s body is a matter of extreme patience and seriousness. Also, the individual should be mentally as well as physically robust. Hence, an individual who is physically well can only choose a career as a general physician job.
Table of Contents for General Physician
What is the role of General Physician?
Are you thinking about what is the work of a general physician or what is a general physician? here is the answer to all your doubts. Individuals who opt for a career as general physicians are required to examine the patients, ascertain the cause of disease or injury, prescribe medical tests if required, and interpret the results of those tests. The general physician job description includes understanding the margin of error has to be zero, or minimal. There are no second chances or trial and error in the medical industry. A single wrong decision can either worsen the situation or can even result in death.
Management
In a career as a general physician, one is responsible for managing various things such as ensuring that diagnosis and treatment-related services are provided within the hospital at all times. An Individual who opts for a career as general physician is also responsible for the smooth, efficient, and cost-effective running of medical equipment. The role of general physician is to maximize flexibility, teamwork, and innovative working practices. A general physician's job duty is that he or she must ensure that the efficient use of medical resources is applied.
Types of a General Physician
Now you know what general physician means, let us now look at some of the general physician career options or types of a general physician.
Radiology technicians: Radiology technicians are professionals who work as an assistant to radiologists and help them in diagnosing and treating patients using diagnostic imaging examinations like X-rays, CT scans, and MRI scans. They also prepare patients and equipment for radiology procedures, perform tests, and maintain the equipment is also one of their job duties.
Registered Nurse: Registered nurses are professionals who work in hospitals, physician’s offices, and home healthcare services. Their job duties include providing patient care, coordinating, and educating patients and the public about various healthcare conditions.
Respiratory Therapist: Respiratory therapist is a medical professional who provides healthcare for the lungs. He or she has advanced knowledge of high-tech equipment, such as mechanical ventilation.
Medical Doctor: The medical doctor is required to collect, record, and maintain patient information, such as medical history, reports, and examination results. A medical doctor is also responsible for referring patients to medical specialists or other practitioners when necessary. A medical practitioner order performs and interprets tests and analyses records, reports, and examination information to diagnose patients' conditions. A medical doctor monitors patient's condition and progresses and reevaluates treatments as necessary.
General Physician: The job of a general physician is to perform minimal treatment and analysis treatments that last a few minutes. Individuals who opt for a career as general physician operates on a human living body and hence their life is at high risk. In order to avoid accidents during diagnosis and treatment, a general physician must be alert, prepared for all types of emergency situations, and able to perform life-saving initiatives at any time during the diagnosis and treatment.
General Physician With Specialization: After gaining a considerable amount of experience as a general physician, the professionals specialize in a particular section and perform the surgeries related to that particular section of medical healthcare. Individuals who opt for a career as general physician operates different types of surgeries categorized on the type of procedures, the body system involved, and the degree of invasiveness. Some of the most prominent surgeries performed are elective diagnosis and treatment, semi-elective diagnosis and treatment, emergency diagnosis and treatment, exploratory diagnosis and treatment, therapeutic diagnosis and treatment, and cosmetic diagnosis and treatment.
Head General Physician: The job of a head general physician is to supervise the diagnosis and treatment team and maintain the treatment schedules for each day. Along with supervising the team, ahead of general physician also practices diagnosis and analysis in his or her specialization. It is the responsibility of a head general physician to oversee the technical equipment that is up to date and matches the standards of the medical industry. A head general physician supervises the team and assigns job duties to each and every member of the medical team.
Also read: Career as Doctor
What is the workplace/work environment of General Physician like?
In a career as a general physician, one spends his or her time in the treatment room, where he or she is required to prepare different sets of machines and other treatment equipment necessary for the particular treatment along with verifying its functionality. Once the patient is connected to the machine, along with performing the diagnosis and treatment, the general physician is responsible for continuously monitoring the patient’s status to control the rate of blood circulation, hemodynamics, temperature, blood composition, and other technical, critical, and treatment devices.
Does General Physician require travelling?
Not Likely
In a career as general physician, one requires little to no travelling. Since a general physician is required to work in one healthcare area and generally spends 90 per cent of his or her time in the OR suite for cardiac cases, in other cases, he or she finds their responsibilities extending to areas such as the medical intensive care unit and medical laboratory.
Employment Shifts
Full Time
In a career as a general physician, one works full-time and might be required to be present on call on some nights, weekends, and holidays. Depending on the treatment, call responsibilities can get rigorous. In certain facilities that perform a large number of surgeries, a general physician may work in shifts to ensure that a trained general physician is available 24 hours a day.
Employment Nature
Permanent
In a career as a general physician, one is hired by employers on a permanent basis. Hence, the nature of his or her work is permanent. Medical centers or third-party medical companies employ general physicians for permanent posts.
Work Place
hospitals
In a career as a general physician, one is mainly required to work in treatment rooms in hospitals and medical centres during general diagnosis and treatment, along with this, he or she also works in ICUs. The working hours for general physicians vary greatly as he or she must answer the call of medical and medical emergencies when needed. Many general physicians are also required to assist in philanthropic cardiac diagnosis and treatment missions. They might work overtime if the diagnosis and treatment stretch to be too long.
Presence in Geographical Area
Rural, Semi-urban, Urban
Tier-1 cities such as New Delhi, Gurgaon, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Pune are big hubs for world-class healthcare treatments making them a big hub for opportunities for healthcare workers working in several sectors. A General physician in Chennai, Tamil Nadu earns an average of 10.6 per cent more than the national average. Individuals who opt for a career as general physician also find higher than average salaries in Bangalore, Karnataka (4.4 per cent more). The lowest General physician salary can be found in Mumbai and Maharashtra (11.5 per cent less).
Time Pressure
Likely
Since a general physician is required to work in one healthcare area and generally spends 90 per cent of his or her time in the OR suite for cardiac cases, in other cases, he or she finds their responsibilities extending to areas such as the medical intensive care unit and medical laboratory.
Overtime Details
Typically, in a career as a general physician, one is required to work overtime 60 hours per week and also might be required to be present on call on some nights, weekends, and holidays. In certain facilities that perform a large number of surgeries, a general physician may work in shifts to ensure that a trained general physician is available 24 hours a day.
Weekly Hours of Work
Min 60 Hours
Typically, in a career as general physician, one is required to work overtime 60 hours per week. Usually, a general physician is scheduled to work eight hours per day starting from 9 AM to 8 PM. However, depending on the requirements and the diagnosis and treatment schedules, the general physician might be required to work under certain shifts.
How to become a General Physician?
Steps to become a General Physician
When we fall sick or have a high body temperature the first thing that hits our minds is the doctor (general physician) and clinic or hospital. A General Physician is a medical professional who deals with all kinds of general diseases or illnesses and is not a specialist or expert who can treat only a specific disease or only one body part or a single system ailment. A General Physician is the first preference for anyone who is suffering from any kind of pain or disease before we go to any specialist.
As a General Physician has a general knowledge of all the body parts. If you are willing to opt for a career as a General Physician and looking for how to become a General Physician then this article is for you. We have mentioned below the steps for how to become a General Physician. Read the complete article to know What is a Doctor and how to become a General Physician in India.
What are the skills and qualities required to become a/an General Physician?
In order to be successful in the field, one must possess some general physician skills. Some of them are mentioned below:
Patience: Individuals who opt for a career as general physicians face critical situations where he or she is required to stay calm and make decisions that might be an important factor in a patient’s future. The general physicians are one of the most essential members of the diagnosis and treatment team. The work he or she does helps in keeping critically ill and medically unstable people alive. Situations like these required them to stay calm and level-headed.
Physical strength: In order to have superior stamina and mental focus, a general physician is required to stay fit and keep themselves healthy. Individuals who opt for a career as a general physician are required to stay alert during the treatments that could last as long as 6-8 hours or more which isn’t possible without mental stamina and irresistible focus.
Communication skills: The ability to communicate effectively is one of the most necessary skills required by a general physician in order to perform their job duties. The team working for treatment must be closely knitted which can be achieved through strong communication, communicating effectively becomes important in a high-stake team environment.
Science skills: Nothing can be achieved without a deep understanding and interest in the subject. In order to become a general physician along with excelling in the career, it is important for the candidate to have a deep interest in science and technology. A good academic background is a non-negotiable requirement in the profession that can be achieved only through knowledge and a deep interest in science and technology.
Attention to detail: A general physician is required to make important decisions during the treatments. Hence, he or she is required to pay meticulous attention to detail to produce highly accurate work even when under pressure. Paying attention to small details is essential during treatment and analysis.
Critical thinking: Management of medical treatments requires sharp critical thinking skills which involve using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems. Hence, a general physician is required to exhibit strong critical thinking and analytical skills which can be used in tough situations.
Learning skills: Learning skills are one of the important skills required to become a general physician which involves learning tasks like conducting tests and inspections of equipment, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance, adjusting actions in relation to others' actions, determining the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job, controlling treatments of equipment or systems, and selecting and using training or instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Popular Online Medicine Courses and Certifications
Which certifications and internships can be helpful in becoming General Physician?
Those interested in becoming a general physician can also pursue the following certifications to add enhance their skills.
Internship Availability
There are plenty of internships available in the field since the profession requires a practical approach and practice. There are many healthcare organizations that offer assistantships in various sections of the medical industry. In order to get these internships, students are required to follow the eligibility criteria specified by each health organization. Also, students in their final year of the study programme are eligible for the internship. Students learn various industrial critics and treatments performed in the medical houses outside the diagnosis and treatment room.
Individuals who opt for a career as general physicians are introduced to various technical and critical equipment with relevance to their applications in the specialization they choose in diagnosis and treatment. The internship offered to the students is mostly unpaid. Students are required to handle their expenses themselves. However, these internships hold much importance since experience in the health industry is a non-negotiable factor in getting a job.
Also read: Career as Surgeon
Career Path Progression for General Physician
Junior General Physician: A Junior General Physician is a professional who helps people with their illnesses by providing medical treatment and caring for them. A Junior General Physician examines the cause of diseases or injuries and prescribes the medical treatment and tests.
Senior General Physician: A Senior General Physician is an experienced professional who leads a team of Junior General Physicians. A career as Senior General Physician requires examining patients and helping them to treat their ailments. A Senior General Physician prescribes medications and suggests lifestyle alterations.
General Physician Jobs and Salaries
Junior General Physician
- Average Salary 39000
Job Description
The Junior General Physician job description includes diagnosing injuries, diseases and other conditions. A Junior General Physician conducts routine check-ups and suggests medical tests for further diagnosis.
Salary Description
An entry-level General Physician salary in India ranges between Rs 0.6 Lakhs to Rs 12.9 Lakhs with an average annual salary of Rs 5.0 Lakhs per annum. Junior General Physician 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 General Physician
- Average Salary 58000
Job Description
The Senior General Physician job description includes prescribing medication and treatment. A Senior General Physician performs routine surgeries, and counsels patients for general well-being and healthcare.
Salary Description
The experienced estimated General Physician salary in India ranges from Rs 1.0 Lakhs to Rs 21.6 Lakhs with an average annual salary of Rs 7.2 Lakhs per annum. Senior General Physician salary may vary depending on the various job factors.
Salary Source: AmbitionBox
What is the job outlook for General Physician?
A career as a general physician is a profession that demands a commitment to a lengthy and rigorous educational track, multiple levels of examinations and licensing, an arduous residency, and career-long learning and dedication. Due to these factors, the professionals in the industry are in shortage and the demand for general physicians is always at stake. This also becomes one of the most important reasons for the high pay packages of a general physician. The government of India is committed to making improvements in health coverage with the announcement of Ayushman Bharat.
This will surely entail the creation of different sectors of the healthcare industry like preventive, promotive, and curative sectors. In the near future, it is estimated that the healthcare industry will become one of the top three employment generators in India, providing stable and quality healthcare employment across all levels of economic cycles. One of the major reasons for the growth of employment in the diagnosis and treatment department will be the growing and ageing population. Additionally, with the advancement in technologies and procedures, it is possible to diagnose a disease that wasn’t possible before.
However, the competition is tough for specialists in urban and semi-urban areas due to obvious reasons such as high earning potential. General physicians are health professionals who operate on patients to repair injuries, correct deformities, prevent diseases and generally improve the health of patients.
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Frequently Asked Questions for General Physician
Que. What does a general physician do?
Ans.Individuals who opt for a career as general physicians are required to examine the patients, ascertain the cause of disease or injury, prescribe medical tests if required, and interpret the results of those tests.
Que. How much does a general physician earn?
Ans.For an entry-level post of a general physician, the average total compensation offered is somewhere around Rs. 75,000 per month. After gaining intermediate experience in the industry, a general physician earns a monthly package of Rs. 1 lakh. The top-level salary of a general physician is somewhere around Rs. 3.5 lakh per month.
Que. Where do general physicians work?
Ans.Individuals who opt for a career as general physicians are found to be practising medicine in various settings, including public health organizations, teaching facilities, private practices, group practices, and hospitals.
Que. What is the scope of becoming a general physician?
Ans.The scope for a general physician is huge. The employment of general physicians is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations due to obvious factors such as the lack of highly trained professionals in the healthcare industry, a long commitment to the constant learning part of the profession, and many more.
Que. What are the best colleges to become a general physician?
Ans.The best colleges to become a general physician are:
Dr MGR Educational and Research Institute, Chennai
Que. How many years to become a general physician?
Ans.To become a General Physician it will take more than 5 years to do the course and internship. The eligibility criteria are passing 10+2 with a science background and the NEET entrance examination.
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Did you know?
Fact 1
Hippocrates is called the “Father of Medicine” and inspired general physicians.
Fact 2
India’s doctor-patient ratio is about 1:854.
Fact 3
General physicians handle 90% of primary healthcare globally.
Fact 4
Strong primary care can cut premature deaths by 30%, says WHO.
Fact 5
India graduates over 70,000 MBBS doctors yearly, many becoming general physicians.
