There was a moment in a recent Instagram reel that stayed with me. A young medical graduate stood quietly as a room broke into applause. The caption read—Not just a uniform. A crown of thorns. Those words captured something profound, as to be a doctor in India is to carry the weight of responsibility, service, and quiet sacrifice.
National Doctors’ Day in India, celebrated on July 1, served as a reminder of the vital role doctors play, both as medical experts and as companions during life’s most vulnerable moments. The gratitude they receive is genuine, but it must be matched with something more enduring. At the heart of every doctor’s journey lies a very human need for support, for balance, and for dignity.
The World Bank has estimated a global shortfall of 18 million health workers by 2030. In India, official figures suggest we now have one doctor for every 834 citizens, more than the WHO’s recommended ratio. But numbers do not always tell the full story. Nearly 70 per cent of our population lives in rural areas, while most specialists remain concentrated in cities. For a mother walking a mile to reach a clinic or a young doctor attending to emergencies without support, these are not statistics, they are lived realities.
Imaging: Deni Lal
Moreover, it’s important to be mindful that becoming a doctor in India is shaped by years of study, intense competition, and an unwavering commitment to serve. Doctors are expected to be knowledgeable, decisive, and deeply empathetic, often all at once. Yet, behind the calm exterior are individuals who carry emotional and physical burdens that are not always visible.
India is poised to lead not only as a global health care destination, but also as a source of skilled health care professionals. Under the ‘Heal in India’ and ‘Heal by India’ initiatives, our health care professionals will be serving both domestic and international health care needs. Nevertheless, we must also focus inward and this year’s Doctors’ Day theme—Behind the Mask: Who Heals the Healers—was a reminder that even those who heal need healing themselves.
Thankfully, the conversation around the wellbeing of health care professionals is gaining ground. In the United Kingdom, the NHS has implemented mental health services and protected learning time through its ‘Looking After You’ programme. These efforts offer helpful models that place care at the centre, not just for patients but also for those who serve them.
In India, too, there have been promising steps. This year’s Union budget included an increase in medical education seats, expanding opportunities for young aspirants across India. The launch of the Tele-MANAS programme under the National Mental Health Mission is another important move that signals growing recognition of the need to support psychological wellbeing within the health care system.
At the same time, our collective responsibility and an imperative is to strengthen the social fabric that surrounds the profession. Over time, an unfortunate climate of mistrust has crept into public perception. Doctors are sometimes seen not as partners in healing, but as distant figures to be questioned or doubted. This is not only unfair, it is unsustainable. Doctors, like all of us, need encouragement, empathy, and space to grow. The decision to pursue medicine has always been a mark of purpose and prestige in India. It must continue to remain so, not just in name but in experience.
Now, as we stand proud on Independence Day, we must remember that true national strength comes not only from policies or programmes, but also from how we treat those who serve the country every day. Doctors are central to that journey, so supporting them, respecting them, and standing by them is not just a tribute to the profession; it reflects the values we choose to uphold as a nation.
Dr Preetha Reddy is Executive Vice Chairperson of Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Limited.