Post-graduation has Become Mandatory in Medical Profession – says Ritu Saxena,

Internal Medicine Specialist & HoD (Medicine), Delhi Government

JULY 16, 2018

Insights
1. Compared to Private Hospitals, doctors in Government Hospitals earn lesser salaries
but have better job security and far better work-life balance.
2. Studying to be a doctor is expensive.
3. Even though you can become a doctor with an MBBS degree, you will be recognized
only if you have a post-graduation degree.
 4. The Government Hospitals are not as well equipped and understaffed.

Personal Details
Name – Ritu Saxena
Profession – Internal Medicine Specialist at Madan Mohan Malaviya Hospital
Age – 49 years
Gender – Female
City – New Delhi
Industry – ​Healthcare

Where have you been born and raised?

I was born in Meerut. My childhood was spent in multiple cities of Uttar Pradesh like Meerut,
Bareilly, Agra, Dehradun (before Uttarakhand was separated, it was part of the state of
Uttar Pradesh), Etawah etc. So I kept changing schools.
My father was a Director in UPSEB (Uttar Pradesh State Electricity Board), which is now
Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (​UPPCL​).
My mom was a school teacher. I have a younger brother.

Who all had the most influence on you and how?

My maternal grandfather had the most influence on me. I idolized him. He was a very
pragmatic person and was always considerate to everyone around him. He had the quality
of serving people selflessly and was a highly intellectual man. Also he was a great
mathematician and even wrote many books on mathematics.

Please give us a summary of your career.

In 1988, I joined ​Moti Lal Nehru Medical College​ in Allahabad and completed my MBBS
from there.
In 1994, I joined ​SN Medical College, Agra​ for MD degree. For a brief period, I joined
Santosh Medical College as a lecturer for 4 months. Then, I was a senior resident at
Safdarjung for 3 years till 2001.
After that, I was a Junior Consultant at ​Apollo hospital, Delhi​ till 2004.
Then I joined the Delhi Government’s Medical Services as an ​Internal Medicine​ Specialist, a
job which I continue till date.

Which institutes are best for the education/training of this

profession?
As far as I know, the best medical colleges of the country are ​AIIMS​, ​Safdarjung​, ​Lady
Harding​, and ​King George’s Medical University​ in Lucknow.

What are the costs associated with the education/training of this

profession?
The college fee can vary depending on whether it’s a private or a government college.
Average cost is 1–2 Lakhs INR per annum in Government Sector and 5–10 lakhs INR per
annum in private institutes. MBBS course is for 5 years and MD courses are for 2 years.

What are the typical entry-level jobs in this profession?

With a minimum of MBBS degree, you are called a doctor and can become a low-level
medical officer.
However, with a post-graduation, you specialize in a particular field and get to become a
doctor of a higher level or even a specialist.
In today’s world, a post-graduation has become mandatory to further your career.

What is the range of remuneration one can expect when starting

out in your line of career & industry?
5-10 years’ experience – 24 lakhs INR per annum
10-15 years’ experience – 50 to 60 lakhs INR per annum
20+ years’ experience – 1 crore INR per annum

Please describe your work.

My day to day work involves looking after OPD and indoor patients. I also handle
emergencies and casualties. My job also involves doing some amount of administrative
work. I work 6 days a week with 7 hours per day. This doesn’t include emergencies, in
which case work timings get extended. Sundays are off.

What are some of the positives, which would encourage

someone to consider a job in government hospitals?
1. The job that I do gives me immense satisfaction. By serving those in need, I get to
give back to the society which provides me contentment.
2. I meet people from all types of backgrounds, classes and different personalities. You
learn so much from the people you meet.
3. You earn a well-deserved hefty salary and the respect you get from the society is
invaluable.
4. There is always a never-ending demand for talented doctors, hence your job security
is very high if you meet the standards.

What are some of the challenges that you would want someone
to be aware of when considering a job in government hospitals?
1. The government does not always have the money, so hospitals sometimes have a
poor infrastructure which makes it harder to deal with the increasing number of
patients. With less money, we are not able to get more staff on board so the
government hospitals remain understaffed.
2. Another disadvantage is that even though we have certain fixed hours in written but
as a doctor, you must be always available. You can be called to the hospital anytime.
3. The cost of education in the journey to becoming a doctor and the amount of effort
that goes into it is humongous.
4. Your social life is highly affected as you are required to be on duty when you are
summoned.

What are the relevant trends/skills/technologies that are currently

commanding a premium in your job profile?
Robotic surgeries and 3D precision for localizing the vision is commanding premium these
days.

What kind of person would be happy in your career?

A person who has determination for serving the mankind and is patient would definitely find
happiness in this career.

Given another choice, what would you do differently as far as

your professional selections are concerned?
I would like to become an avid traveler and a wildlife photographer.

What would be your advice to students or professionals who are

just starting their journey on a path similar to yours?
You should have the passion for your profession. It can get emotionally tough to be in this
profession so prepare yourself for the very same.

Contributing Writer — ​Surabhi Sanghi

Liked this article? You may also like to read ​our conversation with Mr. Adarsh
Sai Jindal​.

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