People Expect Doctors to Do Magic - Dr. Ritika

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1. Tell us about your background and journey.

My name is Ritika. I belong to Dinanagar, District Gurdaspur. I have completed my MBBS from Government Medical College and Hospital, Chandigarh. I was a Non-Academic Junior Resident in the Department of General Surgery at PGIMER, Chandigarh. I am enthusiastic and motivated to do adventurous things in life. I find my job as a new challenge every day. I am super easy-going, approachable, and ready to learn anything that one teaches me.

My life has revolved around my parents. Especially my mother is my key to success, being a mother of 3 children and at such an age too, she strives to be so excited and 'Chalo Aaj Yeh Naya Karte Hain' type of person. She is the one I derive my motivation and all-rounder qualities from. I have had a decent upbringing like any other middle-class family's child would have but at the same time, my parents made sure to bring out the extraordinary in me.

2. Despite so many opportunities in India, why do doctors go abroad? 

India has great minds. People think that there are better opportunities abroad. And there are. India is a developing country and so is its healthcare infrastructure. Brilliant minds are definitely onto greater things and in Central Institutes like PGIMER, Chandigarh; there is no comparison of the ongoing researches and advancement.

But ultimately, like any other profession, here also comes the personal choice. Some have families settled there, some want to learn and come back to serve their country.

3. How much, according to you, are people in India concerned about their health?

People in India, I would say, are quite careless when it comes to health. They keep delaying health checkups and consultation until their symptoms become unbearable. Sometimes, some family function pops up, most of the females keep delaying because of household work, that they didn't get time to go to the doctor, or their children had exams.

Very few populations do exercise regularly due to the same reasons that they had some other chores to do. They must understand the importance of good health. Delaying and avoiding health checkups won't fetch any good. It would only aggravate the problems. Also, they would always want the treatment to be free. Otherwise, they won't follow up.

They would gift some relative a good amount in some marriage or fulfil their social responsibilities but they won't go and visit the doctor because they will have to pay. This COVID situation has still awakened the health concern a bit.

4. What is your take on virtual methods of providing treatment?

It is a nice concept I would say. It organizes the patient load. Telemedicine provides consultation for simple problems for which the patient doesn't have to visit the hospital personally. At the same time, one should be vigilant enough that the source of consultation is authentic.

Also, there is a difference in clinically assessing the patient and then prescribing and just listening to the problem, looking at the investigations, and then prescribing without assessing the patient himself. Hence, it is a nice tool but like every other tool, it should be used wisely.

5. What is the root cause of stigma regarding healthcare workers?

The medical profession is intensive. It demands the bulk of your time and effort. It demands the ability to take risks. But like any other person, doctors too are humans. And people fail to acknowledge this. Despite knowing all the pros and cons, people expect doctors to do magic and revive and cure everyone.

They have huge expectations which when left unfulfilled arise hatred. And hatred and fear give roots to stigma. Especially in this COVID situation, where lies the crisis, people have thrown doctors out of their rented houses, they have been beaten up, there has been violence for irrational reasons.

6. Which is your favourite book and why?

I haven't read so many books or novels. But out of the ones I have read, my favourite book is As you like it by Shakespeare. It is very close to me not because of the story but I have lots of memories attached to reading that book.

7. What impact do you want to create in the medical field?

This is just the beginning. I am a novice. I want to be an example so that people trust doctors, have faith in them, trust their efforts, and understand our capabilities.

Interview by - Sonam