Docs worried as kids shun field due to attack on medicos & exam scams

Nagpur: The Doctor’s Day celebrations by Indian Medical Association (IMA), Nagpur branch, on Monday were a bittersweet affair. While felicitations, blood donation camps, and acknowledgements filled the day, a sense of worry underscored the festivities. Senior doctors, particularly Dr Raj Gajbhiye, dean of GMCH Nagpur, expressed deep concern about the deteriorating work environment for doctors in India.
Dr Gajbhiye pointed out a startling trend, “The condition of doctors as professionals is such that their own children are not willing to take up the profession of their parents.” This observation resonated throughout the event, becoming a central theme for Doctor’s Day discussions.
Statistics echoed Dr Gajbhiye’s concern. He highlighted a ten-fold increase in attacks and cases against doctors across the country in the last decade. The doctor-patient relationship, once a cornerstone of medical practice, seems to be eroding. “I was shocked to see that many MBBS doctors were lining up for police recruitment drives,” he added, painting a stark picture of the profession’s declining appeal.
While felicitating doctors’ meritorious wards, who excelled in HSC and NEET examinations, Dr Gajbhiye couldn’t help but express a tinge of uncertainty. “It was heartening to see these children have scored so well. But the glory of the medical profession is sinking, and I am not sure how many of these will take up the profession of their parents,” he said.
Dr Ashok Adhao, past national president and patron of IMA Nagpur, shifted the focus to another pressing issue: doctors’ well-being. “Many doctors neglect their personal and family life for their passion of patient care. But, we must think beyond this and start bringing changes in the way we work,” he said.
The recent NEET UG exam scam and the eleventh-hour postponement of NEET PG by central exam conducting agencies added another layer of concern. Dr Manjusha Giri, Nagpur IMA president, too addressed the issue. “The credibility and accountability of these agencies is profoundly shattered,” she said.
“As we are the biggest stakeholders in the medical profession, this is a serious concern. To make the community aware of this issue, we celebrated this year’s Doctor’s Day with the theme ‘Fair and Transparent Medical Education,” Dr Giri said.
She emphasized the importance of restoring trust and transparency in medical education, a crucial step towards ensuring a brighter future for the profession.
Senior doctors like Dr Ravindra Jharia, Dr Kriti Tanna, and Dr Sandeep Shinde were felicitated for their contributions to the medical field and society.Social worker Chandrakant Meher and senior journalist Kewal Jivantare were also honoured for their dedication to their fields.
The IMA Nagpur branch also organized two successful blood donation camps. The general public participated in large numbers, demonstrating a spirit of social responsibility.