Being a doctor; I can say with confidence that it’s an enormously rewarding noble profession that offers self-satisfaction by helping underprivileged ones, saving the lives of patients, working for the betterment of mankind. It provides a wide range of opportunities in terms of the huge scope of learning, getting unique experiences in life, job security, travel opportunities to different places, and continuous career progression
As I have already shared my thoughts and experience that in our society who becomes a doctor and why one should choose the medical profession; but now one needs to understand the required time investment to become a doctor. You will no doubt be aware that this is not something that can happen overnight.
Hence coming on our third question -
How many years it would take to become a doctor?
Let’s start-
‘Dr’ these pre-nominal letters which come before the name can be achieved after MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery), BDS (Dentistry), BAMS (Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery), BHMS (Bachelor of Homeopathic Medicine & Surgery), BSMS (Bachelor of Siddha Medicine & Surgery), and BUMS (Bachelor of Unani Medicine & Surgery), besides a Ph.D. that one may want to pursue after a Master’s degree in literally any field of study.
In correspondence to myself being a MBBS doctor, I will discuss this only.
In India; for students who want to pursue a medical profession, here planning and preparation start from class 10 onwards. Then the student must pass 10+2 level with good grades and score at least 55% aggregate in physics, chemistry & biology (PCB), if the student is from the general category. Then comes NEET which is a national-level entrance exam for MBBS or the gateway to becoming a doctor in India. MBBS is graduation time consisting of 5 & 1/2 years including 1year of the internship. For post-graduation, one should do MD (doctor of medicine) / MS (master of science) for 3 years. Then one can opt for a super-specialization (DM/ MCH) course of 3 years.,
In short if I would like to assess about an average duration - then it’s around 10 to 12 years in India.
But I must ask Really!!!! - it’s only 10 to 12 years…
So before going ahead; just wanted to share something-
A little girl; youngest in her siblings, too much fond of books started schooling at the age of 2 & 1/2 years. As usual in her KG class; she was taught about the different professions or can say about our social helpers. After getting to know about all helpers, she chooses that she will be a doctor after growing up. What she understood at this tender age- Don’t know? Did that white coat attract her? She didn’t know how to become a doctor, what dedication a person needs to choose this profession except that usually, class toppers become doctors in the future. So she always got the first position in class during school days being the most sincere one in class. When she took PCB in her 11th class; even up to this she didn’t know what she has to do in near future. In the biology laboratory, she was instructed to dissect earthworms and cockroaches. A timid girl who never killed an ant or housefly; was asked for dissection. She started to cry saying I can’t do this. The teacher consoled her, explained what a doctor does, and gave her a few days to think if she want to continue her study in this direction or want to change her subjects. It was the first time she sit quietly, thought again and again; finally decided that she can’t quit. So, in her 11th and 12th class again she gave her best performance both in theory and practical including dissection. Hence 1st step to reach the target was completed successfully.
After getting admission in MBBS - during her ward posting; when she saw a critically ill patient who died in front of her. She again cried a lot and couldn’t be able to sleep a single second whole night denoting that an innocent timid tiny girl still exists in her inner side. Can you answer this- why did she cry?
I tell you- her inner peace disturbed again thinking that— is this so easy to deal patients and their relatives in such situation as well as she saw a dead person first time due to overprotective nature of her parents. She fainted in operation theatre when she saw surgery first time. When she was posted in gynaecology department and went in labour room. After seeing normal delivery she blamed God that why she is a girl... so many ups and downs she faced in her MBBS time. Then the pre-nominal letters’Dr’ is added in front of her name...
So summing all this, I wanna explain that it’s not only 10-12 years to become a doctor but it’s result of complete 2-3 decades spent with strong dedication, nonstop hard work, continuous self-motivation and last but not the least a strong mental status. Doctors have to work for inhuman hours, undergo sleep deprivation and anxiety, suffer psychological stress seeing their critically ill patients. Ironically, official statistics show that the mental health of doctors is long compromised and that’s an area of deep concern.
Hence, it’s not easy to be a doctor; everyone should think twice before criticizing a doctor or a health professional. It’s quite unfair to put allegations on the community of doctors without thinking. They are ‘living Gods on earth’ (again an overwhelming sentence) because they do their best to save the lives of their patients. As there are certain responsibilities of doctors and health professionals; similar responsibilities also have to be borne by patients and their relatives, political parties, media, and government to see that health care improves and violence against doctors is strongly dealt.
To be continue with my 4th question- What are the expectations of society from doctors, how they deal with doctors and vice versa..........