Healing the Healers- Medicines cure the disease but only the doctor can cure the patients- Dr Regina Maini
Dr Regina Maini/ July 1,2025
Driven by a fascination with the human body, seeing the empathy and compassion during sickness, many children express their desire to be a doctor in life.Witnessing the positive influence during illness is a biggest motivation for becoming a doctor.
But it is not an easy journey, it is Very tough journey, starting from eleventh till the last breadth of life.It requires a lot of dedication, hard work and continuous learning.
Attending the coaching tuitions, preparation for both subjective and objective type papers, clearing the concepts of physics, chemistry and biology then clearing the PMT now called NEET.
Luckily once you enter the Medical College then starts the second phase of struggle.
Starting from Dissection Hall, understanding the Grey’s anatomy, pithing of the Frogs in physiology and pharmacology, learning the microbiology, biochemistry, pathology etc etc
Going in the village, adopting a family/ house in Community Medicine classes/ training , getting the houses cleaned ,apprising and assuring about the family planning etc etc then reaching the final prof.
In the final prof, starting from early morning classes, afternoon hospital duties, evening special ward classes then night duties in gynae / obstetrics, again starting with the early morning classes next day. Final year syllabus learning is just like Cotton dipped in water, you could soak to the maximum of your capacity.
Then doing internship/ residency is like bearing the whole burden of the department as the most junior member of the family.
Every senior treat us like a master of an animal.
After a lot of mental, physical and emotional pressures one becomes a doctor.
Now starts the third phase of life……. This is working like a horse, treated as a donkey.
When there are tears, you are a shoulder…
When there is a pain, you are a medicine….
When there is a tragedy, you are a hope.
It gives us a lot satisfaction…. when you could diagnose a Non Hodgkin Lymphoma at first stage , when you could diagnose a posterior or Inferior wall MI sitting in a remote area, when you could diagnose and treat Bell,s Palsy at an early stage, when you could diagnose the Retinal detachment at an early stage or you could refer the patient very quickly to get treated at super speciality hospital and many many cases when the patients get recovered.
One gets a lot more satisfaction when one does all the duties without any incentives.Every day the doctors prioritise the life of others, often neglecting their own.
Behind the mask: Who Heals the Healers? The reflection of the mental and emotional challenges faced by the Doctors.
The theme calls on the society to not only recognise the doctor’s efforts but their humanity.
This theme highlights the physical, mental , social and emotional well-being of the doctors, the sacrifices we made and the challenges we face for caring the society.
But the society has a very short term memory. When in need, the doctors are treated as boon directly sent from the God, after the patient is cured, doctors are treated as animals, robbers, cruel etc etc. They forget the timely help, appropriate decision; honest guidance given by the doctor could save the life.
We know everything is in the hands of God but God also help in the form of human beings. Many a times we hear news of violence on the doctors, abuses on the doctors and a lot.
After long journey of more than 15 years of lot hardwork, stress, sacrifices when the doctors are not given due respect, children of many doctors are not opting for the medical profession.
The availability of the doctors/ specialists/ superspecialists is the highest in India as compared to the western countries so India has become hub of medical tourism for the NRIs as the cost of treatment is too less compared to Western world.
But the people living here are not realising the best , easily accessible and affordable medical facilities available here. We should not forget the positive difference made in our life by the guidance of the doctors.
Medicines cure the disease but only the doctor can cure the patients.
Hands that heal should not bleed.
” It cannot be inherited nor it can ever be purchased ;
We have earned it with our blood ,sweat and tears,
We own it forever…
The title DOCTOR .”
Let us all Heal the Healers!
Happy Doctors Day.
NOTE: The views expressed by writer are personal. Dr Regina Maini is a Senior Medical Officer, Punjabi University, Patiala.
