What Makes a Good Doctor? The Medical College Debate Reignites

The debate between private and government medical colleges has resurfaced—this time because of a viral social media post. Beyond entrance scores and hefty fees, what truly shapes a good doctor? Is it the clinical exposure that most government colleges offer, or the modern infrastructure of private colleges? Does it depend on the patient load, or the quality of mentorship one receives, no matter the type of college they choose? There is no clear-cut black-and-white answer to this—it’s far more nuanced.

How Did the Debate Resurface?

It all started when Dr. Vivek Pandey, an orthopedic surgeon, shared an insight from his OPD experience on X (formerly Twitter). Dr. Pandey tweeted about asking basic nerve-related questions to an intern after noticing a popular set of coaching notes in her hand, but she couldn’t answer. He passed the same question to two of his first-year PG students, only to get the same result. 

He pointed out how students today struggle to answer without MCQ options. What surprised him even more was that despite having apps like ChatGPT and Grok at their fingertips, they still were not learning. He sounded disappointed and added that something was very wrong with our medical education system. 

His post quickly went viral and sparked a flood of opinions. Some users claimed the students must have paid crores to buy their seats, reigniting the age-old debate about private vs government medical colleges.

Varied Opinions

Dr. Pandey’s post drew a range of responses, many of which compared private and government medical colleges. 

One user wrote, “Had they studied well, they wouldn't be paying crores for a seat.”  In response to the criticism, Dr. Pandey defended his students by stating that they are hardworking. He emphasized that in today’s highly competitive world, some students miss out on government seats due to reservation policies or just a few marks. He noted that this does not mean they don’t deserve to study, as their parents work hard to afford the fees. Dr. Pandey concluded by mentioning that he has witnessed some of the top doctors emerging from private colleges.

Another user drawing from her personal experience said, “Learning happens in wards, not in AC rooms”. According to her, the heavy patient load and opportunity to work under experienced faculty in government colleges make students more skilled, confident, and patient-ready. 

Bengaluru-based cardiologist Dr. Krishnamurthy also joined the conversation, offering a balanced perspective. He acknowledged that government colleges often provide better hands-on training. However, many students, regardless of where they study, do not have anyone to guide them. They rely on self-study. Only a few colleges (government or private) offer high-quality education. He ended by saying, “Not all government colleges are good, and not all private colleges are bad.”

Who’s the Winner?

Experts believe that there is no clear winner here. A good or bad college doesn’t depend solely on whether it is private or government. It comes down to clinical exposure, mentorship, work ethic, and how much a student is willing to learn and grow.

(Input from various sources)

(Rehash/Pooja Bansal/MSM)