Students shift their gaze away from medical course

The medical profession is no longer the preferred career choice for youths in Gurgaon, where quick jobs and faster growth prospects are the main concerns.

The medical profession is no longer the preferred career choice for youths in Gurgaon, where quick jobs and faster growth prospects are the main concerns.

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Students say the medical course consumes time. “Things have changed drastically in the last five years,” said a district health official. Students were seen making a beeline to the Civil Hospital to appear for medical course test before enrolling into various streams. But most of them opted for new job-oriented courses.

“It takes seven to eight years to complete medical studies if one wants to become a specialist. Moreover, it requires a lot of hard work, which I think is not my cup of tea as I want to settle down professionally as fast as I can. I can’t spend so many years studying,” said Neha Saini, a fashion design aspirant.

Engineering student Kartik Tyagi echoed the same sentiment. “There is no personal life in the medical profession. One can get a good salary package only after several years of experience. So I refused my parents when they asked me to go for medicine,” said Tyagi.

Another student, Naresh Saini, said one can’t get a good job before post-graduation degree in medicine.

“It is difficult to get admission in a good institute. It is even harder to get a well-paying job. So I decided to explore other prospects where I can get good salary package immediately after completing the course,” said Saini.

According to deputy civil surgeon Dr Rekha Yadav, only 1% students are seriously interested in becoming doctors. “I have been conducting tests for medical students for the last five years, and I have seen a drastic change in mindset among youngsters. At least 99% students who come here for test prefer other professions,” said Dr Yadav.

“The reason may vary from from hard work to duration of the course,” she added.