Mumbai: In a finding that raises serious questions about the future of India’s healthcare workforce, a new study revealed that more than 91 per cent of Indian doctors would discourage their children from pursuing medicine as a career.
The survey, which covered more than 1,200 physicians across metropolitan centres as well as smaller cities, points to deep professional disillusionment, driven by burnout, rising incidents of violence against healthcare workers, and increasing medico-legal pressures.
According to the survey, 91.4 per cent of respondents said they would actively advise their children not to enter the field of medicine. The study was conducted by the Debabrata Mitalee Auro Foundation over a six-month period.
The data highlights a convergence of factors weighing heavily on practitioners. A significant proportion of doctors reported experiencing high levels of burnout over the past year, while many expressed fear of verbal or physical assault from patients or their families. Legal anxieties also emerged as a major concern, with a majority indicating they had faced medico-legal complaints at some stage of their careers. Researchers noted that this environment has led to a constant state of professional anxiety, with many physicians feeling compelled to practice defensively.
The study also found that a majority of doctors believe public perception of the medical profession has worsened in recent years, contributing to a sense of being undervalued and inadequately protected. This perceived erosion of trust, the report suggests, is accelerating dissatisfaction and prompting many doctors to reconsider their long-term commitment to the profession.
When compared with global trends, the findings suggest Indian doctors may be facing sharper levels of distress. Previous international research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association has indicated lower rates of depression among doctors worldwide, while a study by the British Medical Association found fewer physicians considering leaving the profession due to stress than those reflected in the Indian survey.
The respondents included doctors from both private and public healthcare settings, representing a range of specialties such as general medicine, surgery, pediatrics, and gynecology. Researchers behind the study warned that the findings signal not just a mental health challenge but a deeper structural concern that could impact the sustainability of India’s healthcare system if left unaddressed.
The report calls for systemic interventions, including mental health support for doctors, stronger safeguards against workplace violence, reforms to reduce legal harassment, and public efforts to rebuild trust between patients and physicians. The authors caution that if current conditions persist, the reluctance of doctors to recommend their own profession could eventually translate into a talent pipeline crisis for Indian healthcare.>
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