The Economics of Professions
Doctors: Hospitals, Practice and Government
How Indian doctors choose between government service, private hospitals and their own practice, why specialists earn more, and the shortage of doctors in rural areas.
Doctors choose among different paths.
Options
- Government service: job security, lower pay, rural postings.
- Private hospitals: higher pay, targets.
- Own clinic: independence, business risk.
Specialists
Specialists like cardiologists and surgeons earn much more than general physicians, encouraging long postgraduate training.
Rural shortage
Doctors prefer cities; rural health centres face vacancies.
Incentives
States offer bonus marks for rural service and bonds requiring rural postings.
NMC
The National Medical Commission (2020) regulates medical education and practice.
A doctor from a state medical college must serve two years in a rural area or pay a large bond.
Specialists earn far more.
- Doctors choose government, private or own practice.
- Specialists earn more.
- Rural areas face shortages.
- NMC regulates medicine.
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