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The medical profession in India, once a beacon of prestige and hope, faces an acute career crisis. Recent trends show a marked departure among doctors from even the country’s most esteemed institutions, raising urgent questions about the future of healthcare and the allure of an MBBS degree.
A Wave of Resignations from AIIMS
Between 2022 and 2024, a staggering 429 doctors resigned from 20 branches of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), with the Delhi, Rishikesh, Raipur, Bilaspur, and Mangalagiri campuses bearing the highest losses. Doctors are citing low salaries, poor working conditions, and increasing workplace violence as critical reasons for abandoning public medical institutions for private options or leaving the profession entirely.
Structural Faultlines and Malpractices
Mass resignations, according to Dr. Suvrankar Datta, former President of the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA), stem from deep-seated structural failures. Changes in work norms, lack of research support, and workplace cultures that stifle growth are making it difficult for even senior doctors to stay.
The mushrooming of private medical institutions has given rise to its own set of problems. Industry professionals allege rampant malpractices, including bribery and fraudulent inspections, which compromise healthcare standards. Some private colleges have become “MD-churning machines,” prioritizing quantity of graduates over quality and resorting to unethical methods to achieve positive ratings and metrics.
A Bleak Financial Outlook
Despite the years of rigorous training, today’s medical graduates often accept salaries that struggle to keep pace with basic living expenses. Interns in private colleges may earn just ₹10,000–18,000 a month, while government doctors in states like Tamil Nadu receive some of the nation’s lowest pay. Even holders of MD degrees often earn only ₹60,000–70,000 monthly in government institutions.
This grim compensation picture compounds as hospitals recruit homeopathy or Ayurveda practitioners at even lower rates, further diminishing the perceived value of modern medical degrees.
Erosion of Respect and Safety
Not only are doctors underpaid, but safety concerns have also escalated dramatically. Violence against healthcare workers is alarmingly routine, with no dedicated legislation safeguarding doctors from such attacks. As medicine becomes more commercialized, the traditional respect for the profession is eroding, leading to a climate of distrust between doctors and patients.
Talent Drain and Outdated Training
The stress of inadequate opportunities is pushing fresh graduates abroad—though geopolitical and immigration hurdles often render this option inaccessible or unappealing. Simultaneously, India’s medical curriculum remains outdated, with a lack of technological integration and persistent faculty shortages. Institutions are forced to hire temporary faculty and delay professor retirements, a short-term solution to a deeper issue.
Looking Ahead: The Need for Reform
With technology—particularly artificial intelligence—poised to reshape medicine, industry voices argue that India must shift focus from producing large numbers of generalist doctors to growing a specialist workforce ready for an AI-driven era. The cycle of disillusionment—where students endure years of hardship only to face underpaid internships and bleak job prospects—is likely to persist unless urgent reforms are made in education, workplace safety, and compensation.
Disclaimer: This article is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional medical or legal advice. Readers should consult qualified professionals for concerns regarding medical education or healthcare careers.
Reference: “Is MBBS a ‘professional dead-end’? Exploring the career crisis in India’s medical field,” EdexLive, Aug 16, 2025.edexlive
