They’re Human. They’re Burning Out. And We’re Counting on Them.
By Arunima Rajan
A healthcare system cannot weather the storms ahead if it neglects the health of the people standing on its front lines.
Every Doctors’ Day, India rains hashtags and bouquets on its white coat brigade but strip away the confetti and an awkward prognosis emerges. Who scrubs in for the doctors when burnout crashes into the ICU?
Vineet Mehta, CTO and co-founder of Alyve Health flips the stethoscope back on the medical workforce. "This Doctors' Day, let's discuss something we often forget: taking care of those who care for us. Doctors handle immense daily pressures. Workplace wellness programmes aren't luxuries; they are essential. Mental health support and tools to manage stress can significantly strengthen doctors' resilience, especially during demanding shifts. Providing practical resources, like gyms in hospitals or flexible working hours, enables doctors to prioritise their own health. When institutions invest in doctors' well-being, they build committed teams and create better healthcare environments. And remember, doctors are human too. They need family time, rest, and space to recharge. Supporting their work-life balance is critical for their health and the quality of patient care."
Dr Dhruv Chauhan, national spokesperson for the Indian Medical Association argues that token wellness drives cannot plaster over structural flaws. “Today is a day to salute the courage, silent strength, and persistence of doctors all over the world, to honour them for their act of service in saving a life. Working for 24 to 36 hours continuously and then continuing duty is not an easy task. That is why we are doctors. It takes a toll on our mental and physical health, without any support system or grievance cell to hear us, like we hear our patients. It takes guts to be a doctor,” says Chauhan.
Dr. Shantanu Chaudhry, consultant general and laparoscopic surgeon at Paras Health, underscores this idea. "As doctors, we spend our days guiding patients toward good habits, like balanced nutrition, enough sleep, and managing stress. Yet, we often forget to apply these principles to ourselves. Over the years, I’ve learned that maintaining consistent, small wellness habits is much more important than aiming for perfection. Before the rounds begin, taking even a moment for mindful breathing, a healthy breakfast, or a quick stretch can refresh us and improve our focus. By extending the same compassion we show our patients to our own well-being, we build resilience and bring our best selves to every consultation."
Dr. Ajay Sharma, founder and chief medical director at Eye-Q Eye Hospitals, highlights the life changing impact doctors make every single day. "At Eye-Q, National Doctor’s Day is deeply personal to us because it is a moment to reflect on why we do what we do.
For our doctors, it is never just about performing a procedure; it is about changing the trajectory of someone’s life. Whether it is a farmer regaining sight to return to his field or a schoolgirl finally seeing the blackboard clearly, these moments remind us of the real impact behind every diagnosis and surgery. With over 6 lakh surgeries and 1 crore screenings across 30 centres, our journey has shown that skilled, compassionate doctors can bridge the healthcare gap in India’s smaller towns. This day is a celebration of that spirit, a quiet and relentless commitment to healing and dignity. I am proud to work alongside dedicated doctors at Eye Q who not only uphold the highest standards of care but also carry forward the belief that quality eye care should reach everyone, no matter where they come from."
Standing amid the hum of robot arms and diagnostic screens at Paras Health in Gurugram, Dr. Ashwani Kumar Sharma, senior director of surgical oncology and robotic surgery, breaks down what’s next for medicine: "Technological advancements like AI in diagnostics and robotic surgeries reflect the remarkable progress in modern medicine. At the same time, efforts are underway to ensure that these innovations gradually reach every part of the country. Strengthening rural healthcare with digital infrastructure, upskilling medical staff, and supporting tech-driven care models can help accelerate this transition. Inclusive innovation has the potential to make quality healthcare truly universal."
Yet even as robot arms ripple with promise, the real challenge lies beyond the metro’s glow. Dr. M.V. Padma Srivastava, chairperson of neurology, spells out what it will take to bridge that gap:"Doctors in smaller towns and rural areas continue to deliver care with dedication, even in environments where infrastructure is still evolving. Access to diagnostic tools, functioning labs, and well-connected referral systems is steadily improving, but there remains scope for further strengthening. Prioritising the development of primary health centres, streamlining supply chains, and ensuring the availability of essential equipment will help create a more resilient and responsive healthcare system."
Strengthening buildings and machines only tells half the story. In busy wards, doctors race from bed to bed, often with barely enough minutes to spare. Dr. Amit Bhushan Sharma, director and cardiologist, warns that without enough hands-on deck, quality care slips through the cracks:"In many healthcare settings, especially high-volume ones, doctors manage a large number of patients in a single day. This naturally limits the time available for detailed consultations and consistent follow-ups. Strengthening the medical workforce is not just about increasing numbers; it’s also about creating an environment that supports quality care. Expanding medical education, improving working conditions, and encouraging service across regions can help build a system that works well for both patients and providers."
Yet even when wards are staffed and supplies arrive on time, policy inertia can stall progress. Real-world insight must shape the rules that govern daily practice. Policy effectiveness relies on direct input from healthcare professionals. Dr. Manmohan Singh, vice chairperson of neurosurgery at Paras Health, notes: “India has built a solid framework of health policies over the years, all designed with the right intentions to improve access, quality, and outcomes. What we need now is to make those intentions visible in everyday practice. Doctors on the ground still face delays, staffing gaps, and procedural hurdles that take time away from patient care. Policies work best when they’re shaped by those who live them daily. Listening to medical professionals, simplifying systems, and making room for real-time feedback can turn plans into impact. Meaningful change begins when the people delivering care help shape how it’s delivered.
And it doesn’t stop at physical health. Sumit Safaya, head of operations at LISSUN reminds that mental health of care givers is equally important, "On National Doctor’s Day, we honour the pivotal role doctors play not just in physical healing, but also in shaping the nation’s emotional and mental well-being. At LISSUN, we are committed to complementing their efforts through a phygital model that integrates technology with on-ground expertise to make mental health support more accessible, structured, and stigma-free. Our child-focused initiative, Sunshine by LISSUN, furthers this mission by delivering multidisciplinary developmental care to children in need."
Ultimately, Doctors' Day serves as an essential reminder that prioritising doctors' health and well-being is not merely beneficial but necessary for strengthening healthcare from within.
Voices from the Front Line
Suhasini Inamdar, Senior Consultant, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Motherhood Hospitals, Indiranagar, Bangalore
After a tough shift, when you finally get a moment to sit quietly, what’s the first thing that pops into your head?
The first thing in my mind is the feeling of gratitude; that both mother and child are safe, that we saw a beautiful miracle of life unfold right before our eyes. After all these years, witnessing the strength mothers show during childbirth never stops inspiring me. One story that keeps popping up in my head is how a mother withstood 18 hours of excruciating labour to bring her child into this world; stories like this make us realize why childbirth is such a beautiful and sacred phenomenon.
The best part of my profession is seeing the happiness on my patients’ faces after they have gone through the entire ordeal with a smile on their faces. The very fact that I can make a difference in the lives of people when they need it most and when they are at their most vulnerable is the very fact that I can never think of myself as anything other than a doctor.
What sort of initiatives can improve mental health of India's physicians?
To keep it very simple, one must be open with others and have meaningful conversations. As doctors, although we are trained in the art of managing emergencies and stress situations, most forget the emotional burden we carry, especially in obstetrics. Regular debrief sessions after critical deliveries, peer discussions, quality time for ourselves and family, and this I feel, will certainly rejuvenate us. And creating safe spaces to share vulnerabilities can go a long way.
What are the reasons for their burnout?
Burnout is, unfortunately, a part and parcel of the unpredictability of this profession. Births don’t follow calendars, unfortunately, so emergencies can be right around the corner, and as a gynaecologist, you shoulder the responsibility of two lives: mother and child. The emotional highs and lows, from seeing healthy deliveries to managing heartbreaking losses, are constant. With time, this takes a toll on both physical and mental health, and as such, we have seen it boil over to one’s personal life and start affecting personal relationships and mental peace.
Female doctors often face challenges balancing work and family. What sort of measures are required for their mental health.
You have to understand a lot of us are mothers too and as such it is heartbreaking for us too to leave our own child with a 102 fever and arrive at the hospital with a clear kind to do a C-section. But in reality, that’s what most of us are doing. Hospitals must respect this and help facilitate flexible shifts during motherhood, 24*7 rotational support, and create safe spaces like focus groups for the mental stress. We must understand that saving the mental health and overall well-being of a doctor can lead to multiple lives being benefited.
I used to rush home to be with my son. I used to long for him so much! Now, it’s my granddaughter; she is my true stress buster. I couldn’t attend my son’s graduation because I had recurring emergency situations to handle, and that still bothers me today. Right now, my granddaughter is my true stress buster. At the back of my mind, I always wondered, is the food ready on the table for the family? Are all the house helpers coming or not? My husband, being a super busy practitioner, didn’t help much. That said, he being a doctor helped me immensely because he could understand my frustration so well. He was and still is my punching bag. I feel family support has always been, and will always be, very important.
If you could redesign a doctor’s career from day one to retirement, where would you build in regular breaks or ‘me-time’ so the job feels less overwhelming?
After every intense phase, residency, high-pressure clinical years, and major life events, they need to take their foot off the gas and hit the reset button for a change. I’ve seen colleagues burn out simply because they didn’t have the chance to step back and breathe. If it were up to me to reshape the system, I’d build planned sabbaticals, lighter duties for senior doctors, and regular mental health breaks into the career path. A doctor with space to recharge will always deliver better care. Once a person decides to become a doctor, she should be prepared to face challenges throughout. The breaks in our careers are basically to upgrade ourselves professionally. Conferences, fellowship courses to name few. Being busy throughout is become part of life, I feel most of us have gotten used to it. Pursuing hobbies like reading, crochet, knitting, tatting and traveling really helped me.
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