Tldr:It takes really long and in the current scenario its forever and you better be ready with another source of income!
Did I tell you I am amongst the top 25 Indian Doctor’s Blog on Feedspot ?It’s always great to reach the people I want to help and Feedspot is a big help.
I started my training in 2000 and finished in 2010 .But getting enough experience to start my own practice took even more time.Remember I am an Indian doctor and different countries have different course duration and rules.
In India in the current scenario with a bond after every pg degree and subspecialty/ superspeciality, post pg qualification ,the total training duration and bond duration and amount can be considerable.
All DM MCH students who learn at a Government medical college have to work in a government hospital for a bond period of 3 years or pay 30 lakhs in West Bengal
That’s not all ,for pg degree the bond amount can range from lakhs to crores depending on the state.
Luckily I didn’t have this problem when I did my PG in 2007 .A lot of things have changed.More colleges,more seats,more reservations,more suicide rates ,more attrition of doctors from the country and the profession.
I was happy to join a government medical college in a district in West Bengal India. But in districts ,the setup is still a glorified village hospital, with impossible patient load and quality medical teaching a challenge.The worst part is you never stop doing night duties .If you take leave for any reason ,you not only have to adjust your duties but come back and do double duty .Because the leaves are not leaves but end up being exchanges of work days.The worst part is the myth of free healthcare is so deeply entrenched that people will pay for big parties but while getting operated want best treatment for free!
The societal expectation for their own health and healthcare is skewered .But I don’t want this to be a rant.
Healthcare needs doctors to be in the right number and good quality.There are no shortcut.
I am not even discussing the medicolegal aspects because that’s an entirely different cup of tea .
If National Medical Council doesn’t do a ground reality check ,it just might be a better idea to be a self help Guru, health coach,life coach ,nutritionist,or even a self certified doctor(a.k.a) quack than a registered medical doctor in the very near future.
The bonds are scary and not for the faint hearted.A big reason for poor mental health issues in many and there’s few things going for the current state of medical education.
The good news is things must hit rock bottom, before they can get better .May be one day people will all be so healthy,disease free, addiction free,that a doctor or hospital will not be needed.That I think is the ideal health of the people for a nation which is truly empowered.
This is post D for BlogchatterA2Z challenge and I am writing also for the Ultimate Blog Challenge.
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You are by far one of the best doctors I know because you really get to the root of things.
After reading your post one can understand how difficult things are for those who pursue this noble profession too..
Thank you
What a fascinating post. I know you tried to keep it upbeat but it does sound absolutely unbelievably difficult and hard financially as well as emotionally and physically. Thank you for sharing this important topic, and Congratulations on becoming a Doctor in spite of tremendous hardships.
Yes becoming a doctor is a blessing .Luckily when I did my PG there was no post pg bond only bond for leaving the seat.So less trauma that way.Its like a slowly unraveling sweater.Its keeping me warm but I know it will need repair!
Yes, it does take a long time to be a doctor – at least 7+ years here in Canada. I am a nurse. I worked in a teaching hospital. That’s what I remembered anyways. Both my nephews are doctors. One trained in Ireland and the other here. Cost alot and alot more in Ireland. The hours for the residents are crazy. Even if they are on call at night, they still have to show up the next day.
It really is for the long haul.But for how long is anybody’s guess.