One of the most sought-after medical specialties among MBBS physicians choosing master’s programs in recent years is radiology. Historically, the most popular specialties were cardiology and neurology, but times have changed dramatically. Many highly rated candidates now choose radiology as their career, along with general medicine, according to the NEET PG allocation list for 2024. Younger doctors are prioritizing pleasant working conditions and manageable hours over the high-intensity demands of other specialties like surgery and emergency medicine, which is mostly due to their desire for a better work-life balance.
While cardiology and neurology were originally thought to be the best specialties, they are currently losing favour, even in reputable government medical schools, according to Dr. SP Kalantri, a professor at the Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medicine, Sewagram, Wardha. Once thought of as a “paramedical field,” radiology has become much more prestigious and in high demand. The growth of proactive screenings, the emergence of interventional radiology as a super specialty, and the growing integration of AI with radiology for quicker illness identification are some of the factors influencing this trend.
The need for radiologists is a worldwide issue rather than just one that exists in India. 45 out of the top 100 students have chosen radiodiagnosis, indicating that a significant percentage of highly ranked students have chosen this specialty, according to NEET-PG counselling data. High selection rates for radiology have been observed at prestigious medical schools including Madras Medical College in Chennai, BJ Medical College in Ahmedabad, and PGIMER in Delhi.
Furthermore, compared to professions like surgery, dermatology—especially skin and venereology—is becoming a more appealing career choice, in part due to its more comfortable working conditions. Dermatology and radiology are appealing professions due to their shorter workdays and air-conditioned workspaces. Radiology is a desirable career choice for financial reasons since, in contrast to experts in other areas, radiologists begin earning money as soon as they graduate.
The overabundance of medical skill in tier-1 cities and the rise in violent occurrences against physicians have also encouraged physicians to pursue radiography, according to Dr. Ravindra Kute, the former president of IMA Maharashtra. Instead of relocating to rural or smaller towns, which are frequently the sites for surgical specialities, many young doctors with families would rather remain in cities.
But experts caution that this move away from surgery may make the lack of physicians in rural regions worse, particularly in fields like diabetes care and infectious diseases, which are vital to India’s healthcare system. Future difficulties, such as stagnation and dissatisfaction if the labour market becomes oversaturated, could result from the increased emphasis on lucrative specialities like radiology. However, as healthcare continues to shift towards more diagnostic-driven therapies, there will likely be a continued high demand for radiologists both in India and around the world.
SOURCE :
TIMES OF INDIA
