The Bengaluru-based cardiologist, Dr. Rajesh Sharma, recently took to social media to address a glaring hypocrisy that he has witnessed in society. In a thought-provoking post, he pointed out how people expect doctors to work tirelessly to save lives, yet criticize them for earning a decent living. Dr. Sharma highlighted the stark contrast in attitudes towards doctors and engineers, noting that while doctors are often criticized for their earnings, engineers are often celebrated for their high salaries.
Dr. Sharma shared his own experience to shed light on this issue. He revealed that despite years of hard work and dedication to his profession, he was earning a mere Rs 9,000 per month, which is significantly lower compared to the salaries of engineers with similar years of experience. He expressed his disappointment at how doctors, who play a crucial role in saving lives and ensuring the health and well-being of the community, are undervalued in terms of their compensation.
Dr. Sharma emphasized that being a doctor is not just about the years spent in medical school, but also the immense responsibility and sacrifice that comes with the profession. He stressed that doctors work long hours, face enormous pressure, and make life-and-death decisions, often at the expense of their own personal time and well-being. Despite this, he lamented that doctors are often not fairly compensated for their skills, expertise, and dedication.
Dr. Sharma’s powerful message struck a chord with many, sparking a discussion about the societal perception of doctors and their earnings. He called for a change in mindset, urging people to appreciate and respect the work of doctors, and recognize the value they bring to society. He also highlighted the need for fair remuneration for doctors, considering the critical role they play in saving lives and maintaining public health.
As the debate continues, Dr. Sharma’s words serve as a reminder of the dedication and sacrifices made by doctors, and the need to address the disparity in earnings between professions. He hopes that his message will encourage a more nuanced understanding of the challenges faced by doctors and prompt a change in societal attitudes towards their compensation, which should be commensurate with the invaluable service they provide to society.
Dr. Deepak Krishnamurthy, a senior interventional cardiologist at Sakra World Hospital, recently highlighted the stark contrast in fees and earnings between medical and engineering professions in India. Sharing an article on social media, he pointed out that while engineering colleges charge exorbitant fees, doctors often start their careers with meager earnings.
Referring to a specific example from the article, Dr. Krishnamurthy highlighted a Bengaluru-based college that was charging a staggering Rs 64 lakh for a seat in computer science engineering. In contrast, he revealed that doctors, despite years of education and training, may start their careers earning as low as Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000 per month. He further pointed out that engineers, on the other hand, can earn salaries ranging from Rs 15 to 20 lakh per annum in the initial phase of their careers.
Dr. Krishnamurthy’s post shed light on the financial disparity between the medical and engineering professions in India, drawing attention to the significant financial burden that medical professionals often face, particularly during the early stages of their careers. His message sparked discussions on the need for fair compensation for doctors and the value of their services in society.
“The starting salary after MBBS is as low as Rs 10-20K per month. Nowhere to the tune of 15-20lakh per annum being spoken here for post Btech! How does this society feel so comfortable advising a life-saving doctor to live for ideals and not look for money, while gloating at engineer salaries?” Dr Krishnamurthy tweeted.
He further mentioned that some days he had to check the patients on weekend as they didn’t have time on weekdays. “People act like doctors could take those ideals to a grocery shop and encash them. Or that a doctor could pay kids’ fees with blessings. Like the whole world needs food and clothes and stuff but the doctor doesn’t need them!” Dr Krishnamurthy wrote.
“Every industry can make unlimited profits including killer cigarette and alcohol manufacturers but not doctors and hospitals! Someone writing some inconsequential code is entitled to make more money and fly business class while the doctors have no such right whatsoever,” he added.
The cardiologist from Bengaluru also claimed that people don’t truly understand what doctors go through until their own children decide to pursue medical careers. “Ninety nine percent of people do not understand or even try to do so.”
