Why indian doctors go abroad

NEW DELHI: India is busy in rescuing civilians who are trapped in Ukraine as Russia and Ukraine continue their war. Most of those returning to India from Ukraine are medical students. The question also arises as to why so many Indian students go abroad to study. But as a response, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prahlad Joshi said that these students were leaving India because they are afraid of failure. He added that 90% of Indians studying medicine abroad fail to pass the qualifying exams in India. He also reminded that this issue should not be discussed in such a scenario.

Those pursuing MBBS abroad are required to pass the Foreign Medical Graduates' Examination (FMGE) to practice as a doctor in India. However, the pass percentage of this exam is very low.

The minister admitted that students in Kharkiv and the capital, Kiev, were suffering without access to food and water. The government is in talks with Russia and Ukraine. The minister assured that all students would be returned soon.

TAGS: RUSSIA, UKRAINE, MBBS

The total number of Indian students going abroad to become doctors has been steadily increasing over the years. A large number of reasons are behind this phenomenon, including job prospects, ease of admission etc.

Why do Indian doctors want to go abroad?

It’s not only about money. It’s also about the standard of living. the facilities, the protocols, the working hours(No limits in our country) and a stress free life which attracts many which make them prefer other countries over India. Well the most important of all, the security concerns doctors in India face.

Why do Indian doctors leave India?

Instead of improving the public health sector, the governments have been trying to put the responsibility of public health on shoulders of private doctors. For these reasons, an exodus of doctors to other countries is taking place, which is further deepening the crisis.

Which foreign country is best for Indian doctors?

Mauritius, which is home to many persons of Indian origin, has encouraged many Indian doctors in the past. It also ranks high because of a free economy, efficient governance and quality of life. It is well documented that Canada is an accommodating country for immigrants and more so for doctors.

IMPORTANT:  What do the different Indian dots mean?

Do Indian doctors work abroad?

Their training is on par with many foreign medical degrees. Still, the basic and advanced medical degree from India does not carry much weight or do not qualify automatically in developed countries. Even in Gulf, nowadays they prefer doctors who are trained from western countries like from Canada, US, UK and Australia.

How many Indian doctors go to USA?

Doctors of Indian origin

As of 2019, there were about 938,980 active physicians in the US; Indian-origin physicians account for at least 8.5% of the total physician population. It is noteworthy that India provides the largest number of International Medical Graduates to the US in absolute numbers.

How many students become doctors every year in India?

India produces around 30,000 medical graduates every year, which means that we will not be able to close the gap in 40 years. The bigger problem is that many of these graduates—often the best of the lot—go abroad for further studies and never return.

How many Indian doctors work abroad?

Around 69,000 Indian-trained physicians worked in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia in 2017, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), which is equivalent to 6.6 percent of the number of doctors registered with the Medical Council of India (MCI).

Can Indian doctors work in Europe?

The answer is yes, and no matter where you are from, you can technically, work as a doctor in the US, but you have to pass the USMLE (The United States Medical Licensing Examination). … The tricky part is that Indian medical degrees are accepted all over the world but almost every country requires licensing examination.

IMPORTANT:  Which is the most powerful temple in India?

Which country is best for doctors?

There are quite a few numbers of countries, where Doctors earn a sumptuous amount. The USA is among the top countries, where these Doctors are blooming financially.…

List of Highest Paying Countries for Doctors:

May 20, 2017 by The Sting's Team

This article was exclusively written for the Sting by one of our passionate writers, Mr Ravindra Nath. The opinions expressed within reflect only the writer’s views and not The European Sting’s position on the issue.

The total number of Indian students going abroad to become doctors has been steadily increasing over the years. A large number of reasons are behind this phenomenon, including job prospects, ease of admission etc.

Most students who want to pursue M.B.B.S. (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery) abroad are influenced by the extremely competitive and unrealistic admission criteria in Indian medical colleges. With admissions in top government institutions like Maulana Azad Medical College, AIIMS etc. being so tough, there is realistically a very big chance that you will not get into government medical college even if you have scored well. The problem starts with the limited number of seats in medical schools, which is fiercely aggravated by the problem of reservation for various castes and communities in both central and state government colleges, as imbibed in the constitution of India. As an instance, the unreserved category got 337 seats out of total 672 MBBS seats in seven AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences) Institution.

Students who do not get into government colleges are left only with the options of private medical colleges where the standard of education isn’t anywhere near great along with the exorbitant fees. India is the only country where medical seats are officially sold, therefore, acknowledging the importance of money power over merit. In private medical colleges significant numbers of seats are paid seats at undergraduate and post graduate levels, which are beyond the payment capacity of a common person. For example the illegal capitation fee for one MBBS seat ranges from 50 lakh to one crore Indian rupees (74,800 to 149,600 US dollars). These seats are mostly taken by the offsprings of rich businessmen or practicing doctors who want their next generation to take over an existing practice. To avoid a situation in which they have to pursue M.B.B.S. from a private medical college, many students choose to pursue their undergraduate education abroad at medium or high level university. Not only are the admissions comparatively much easier than what they are at government medical colleges in India, but the standard of education at a medical college abroad is generally much higher than what it is at a private medical college in India.

Students who want to pursue academic (non-clinical) subjects, especially the ones related to research, often tend to go abroad to pursue their postgraduate studies. This is primarily because the research opportunities that are available abroad are much better than the opportunities available in India. There is more support, better infrastructure and better prospects for students conducting their research abroad. Not only that, but certain subject specializations and programs (related or unrelated to research) are not even offered in India.

Also, the work conditions for doctors in many public hospitals are quite miserable. Trainee doctors (Interns) who form the backbone of the system have to labor unreasonably long hours. Moreover, many public hospitals are underequipped with inadequate facilities. Overcrowding and poor doctor to patient ratio further adds to the stress. The doctor to patient ratio in India is almost 1:1,700. In addition, the salary that they get does not cover their basic needs and is not as per the inflation. On top of it, there is no safety and incidences of assaults on the doctors by patients or their relatives are quite common. The conditions of accommodation provided to the doctors who should be considered precious human resource are pathetic too in many medical colleges.

 These all factors have led to significant discontent among medical aspirants and they are going abroad to pursue MBBS and become doctors.

Reference

• Becoming a doctor in India: once a cherished dream, no longer cherished though by Richa Arora

About the author

Ravindra Nath is in the final year of M.B.B.S program, from North DMC Medical College & Hindu Rao Hospital, New Delhi (India). He is a recent addition to the IFMSA family and is extremely enthusiastic in taking part in its many workshops and events. He is currently involved in and wants to pursue a career in public health. He is quite committed to community service. He is an inborn leader & proficient in Oral and Written Communication Skills, with a nag for Networking and Managerial Skills. He also holds the position of Deputy Director in Fraternity of Seekers.  His special interests include research in the field of neurology, trauma surgery, public health and learning more about Auto-Immune diseases & Indigenous form of Medicines. He absolutely adores TED talks and war history!