Pune: Quick money, a six-day work week, non-emergency duties and a relatively safer shift compared to their colleagues are among reasons why many MBBS doctors are selecting radiology as their specialty during their master’s course.
A few decades ago, the top choices were cardiology or neurology, but trends have changed, according to the recently announced NEET PG allocation list 2024. The list showed that while obstetrics and gynaecology still were the most commonly allocated branch of medicine due to the high availability of seats, radiology and general medicine have emerged as the most preferred chosen profession among the top-ranked students.
Senior doctors TOI spoke to said many of their younger colleagues now give work-life balance the highest priority.
“I remember there was a time when cardiology or neurology were the ultimate fields,” said Dr SP Kalantri, professor of medicine at the Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medicine, Sewagram, Wardha. “But that changed in the last few years. These seats are now vacants at even the most reputed govt medical colleges. Radiology, which was in the 80s considered a ‘paramedical field’, has surely emerged as a desired option,” he said.
The rise in demand for radiologists can be attributed to more proactive screenings, the emergence of interventional radiology as a super-specialty branch and an interest among health startups to mix AI and radiology, to detect diseases faster.
As per the NEET-PG counselling seats allotment (round 1), out of the top 100 all-India ranks, 45 students chose radiodiagnosis and 46 chose general medicine. These seats were allocated at reputed medical colleges, including Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Delhi; BJ Medical College in Ahmedabad; Vardhman Mahavir Medical College, Delhi; and Madras Medical College, Chennai.
Even in the provisional selection list for NEET (PG)-CET, 2024, issued by Maharashtra govt, of the top 100 students, 28 chose radiology and 29 chose general medicine as their specialty. Some also chose skin and Venereology (VD) — essentially dermatology — which is also fast emerging as a desirable selection.
Dr Kalantri said: “Work environment in both dermatology and radiology is comfortable compared to branches such as surgery or emergency. These limited working hours, access to air-conditioned cabins, along with a good work-life balance have become important for upcoming doctors. Also, opting for general medicine opens up a lot of possibilities if a doctor chooses to go for a super specialty.”
During a recent online discussion on this very subject doctors listed advantages of selecting radiology. One doctor said radiologists need to know of all kinds of diseases and medical branches before offering the correct diagnosis. Secondly, the stream offers “quick money” as radiologists begin to earn right after their post-graduation.
Dr Ravindra Kute, Former President of India Medical Association (IMA) Maharashtra Chapter said,”We could also include the rise in the number of violent incidents against doctors. This is another reason why MBBS doctors are preferring radiology. Yes, in the 80s radiologists were viewed as mere paramedics despite being actual doctors. That has obviously changed.”
He added that over-saturation of medical talent in tier-1 cities was also driving new doctors away from branches of surgery. “So those with super-specialties are left with tier-2 or taluka-level hospitals. But keeping children’s education in mind, many with families do not want to move to villages. This, however, may change in the coming years,” Dr Kute said.
The shift from surgery specialisations, though, may widen the gap between supply and demand, experts warned. “Infectious and non-communicable diseases such as diabetes are still the biggest burdens on India’s health systems so we need good MBBS doctors at the village-level, instead of saturation in big cities. Unfortunately, mushrooming of private hospitals has led young doctors to pick a branch that gets them a high-paying job. And since not everyone will land this ‘high-paying job’, there will be stagnation which eventually may trigger frustration after a few years of practice.”
Dr Murali Krishna, general secretary, Indian Radiological and Imaging Association, said: “There is a dearth of radiologists worldwide, not just in India. Many recruiters, especially from US and UK, are now looking to rope in radiologists and that improves opportunities for Indian doctors too. Unlike earlier, when a backache or a stomach pain was treated with a painkiller, we have today moved towards evidence-based treatment. Without a CT scan, most treatments don’t start. Also, AI has made work easier for a qualified radiologist.”
