General Physician & Doctor

General Physician & Doctor: An Overview

General Physicians are medical professionals who diagnose, treat, and prevent a variety of illnesses and medical conditions without specializing in any particular field. Doctors, as a broader category, include both general physicians and specialists with advanced training in specific medical domains.

Education Eligibility

To become a General Physician or Doctor, the following educational qualifications are required:

  • 10+2 Qualification: Students must have completed higher secondary education (12th grade) with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology as core subjects.
  • Minimum Percentage: Typically, a minimum of 50-60% aggregate in the science stream is required (varies by institution and category).
  • Age Limit: Usually, candidates must be at least 17 years old to apply for medical programs.

Handicapped Eligibility

  • Disability Quota: Persons with disabilities (PwD) are eligible for medical programs under reserved quotas, provided their disability does not interfere with their ability to practice medicine.
  • Verification: Medical fitness certificates and disability assessments are conducted to ensure suitability for the profession.

Admission Process

  1. NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test): A mandatory entrance exam for MBBS/BAMS/BHMS and other medical courses in India.
  2. Application Form: Fill out forms for NEET or specific medical colleges/universities.
  3. Counseling: Admission is based on merit, followed by a centralized or college-specific counseling process.

Entrance Exam

  • NEET (UG): Conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), NEET is the primary exam for admission to undergraduate medical programs (MBBS, BDS, etc.).
  • AIIMS & JIPMER: Previously conducted separate exams but now integrated with NEET.
  • State-level Exams: Some states conduct their own entrance tests for local medical colleges.

Colleges and Universities

  • Top Medical Institutions in India:
    • All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS)
    • Christian Medical College (CMC), Vellore
    • Maulana Azad Medical College (MAMC), Delhi
    • Kasturba Medical College (KMC), Manipal
    • Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), Pune
  • Private Colleges: Manipal University, SRM University, and others offer private medical education.

Scholarships

  • Government Scholarships:
    • National Scholarship Portal (NSP)
    • Central Sector Scheme for SC/ST and economically weaker sections.
  • Private Scholarships:
    • Reliance Foundation Scholarship
    • Tata Trusts Medical Scholarship.
  • Institutional Aid: Many colleges offer merit-based or need-based scholarships.

Time and Expenses

  • Duration: MBBS typically takes 5.5 years (4.5 years academic + 1-year internship). Specializations require additional 2-5 years.
  • Cost:
    • Government Colleges: ₹1–5 lakh for the entire course.
    • Private Colleges: ₹20–80 lakh or more.
    • Expenses include tuition, hostel, books, and clinical practice.

Average Income

  • General Physician: ₹4–8 lakh per annum (starting salary).
  • Specialist Doctor: ₹10–30 lakh per annum or higher depending on experience and expertise.

Growth in Career

  • High demand for medical professionals ensures stable career growth.
  • Opportunities to specialize further, work in hospitals, clinics, research, or academia.
  • Possibility to open private practice or consult for healthcare firms.

Specialist

  • After MBBS, doctors can specialize in fields like:
    • Cardiology
    • Neurology
    • Pediatrics
    • Dermatology
    • Orthopedics
    • Psychiatry
    • Gynecology, etc.

Scope in Government and Private

  • Government Jobs: Opportunities in public hospitals, community health centers, and administrative roles.
  • Private Sector: Work in private hospitals, corporate healthcare, private clinics, or as independent consultants.

Special Eligibility for Persons

  • Mental and Physical Fitness: Aspiring doctors must meet medical fitness criteria to handle the physical and emotional demands of the profession.
  • Communication Skills: Essential for effective interaction with patients and healthcare teams.
  • Critical Thinking and Empathy: Important attributes for diagnosis and patient care.