Introduction

Being a doctor or to be more specific continuing one’s dream to be an MBBS doctor is a dream for many students in India. But still, the way to become a doctor is steeped in a lot of difficulties. This case study explores the main challenges faced by students pursuing the MBBS course or why they do not persist in their pursuit of medical education in India. Some of the access barriers may be summed up into tuition costs, shortage of places, competition and tests, regional and global divisions, and pressure from mental health.

1. Financial Constraints

a. High fees and more precisely high tuition fees at private institutions

The nominal fees that government medical colleges charge, the actual capacities of these institutions are much more limited and that is why private medical colleges are becoming the only option for many students. Tuition fees in private institutions start from INR 10 lakhs in some institutions to over INR 1 crore for the whole course. This financial issue threatens the MBBS dreams of low- to middle-income students despite having a chance to get admission.

b. Cost of Study Abroad

A large population of Indian students who fail to get admission to government or low-cost medical colleges move to other countries like Russia, Ukraine, and China for MBBS. While these options may be cheaper than studying in a private Indian college, travel expenses, living expenses, and adjusting to a different type of education system also take their toll on finances.

Case Example:

So, Rahul from Bihar passed NEET but due to poor ranking on the merit list; he could not get into the government medical college of Bihar. He lost his family’s ability to pay the INR 50 lakh fees for private institutions so he was forced to either let go of his dream or find education abroad. He had to borrow a loan and join a university in Ukraine with learning difficulties as compared to the former system.

2. Limited Availability of Seats

a. Analysis of Demand-Supply Proportion

At present, there is a huge demand for an MBBS seat in India, while the number of such seats is comparatively very low. Though every year lakhs of students come out for the NEET examination, there are only around 90,000 seats for MBBS across the country. This compels many students to score high grades in their national examinations hence the result is that admission becomes a preserve of a few fortunate ones.

b. Quota Reservations

The reservation policy in India to provide seats in educational institutions according to caste and Economic background hinders normal chances of getting admission for students in the general category more so for SC/ST students. Despite the intention of reservations to create equity, most students feel they are victims of discrimination with many missing on admission by a few margins based on seat allocation based on reservation.

Case Example:

Riya is another candidate who successfully scored well in the NEET examination but failed to get a government medical college in Maharashtra where she belongs. This she said is an added pressure to students like her who don’t fall under any of the reserved categories but also cannot afford to attend private school.

3. Competition and Entrance Exams

a. High Pressure of NEET

NEET is the only entry point for medical students in India. More than 20 lakh students appear for the exam annually with a limited number of seats available. Unfortunately, this examination is extremely difficult owing to high cut-off marks and negative markings. The bar placed on students sets a lot of pressure and stress, and where it matters most, students are willing to take multiple tries and delay their medical lives.

b. Coaching Industry

Calculations and competitiveness cut off NEET’s positive aspect as many students deal with financial hardships and are forced to join costly coaching programs to increase their chances of coming through successfully. This enhances the financial costs and exerts enormous psychological demands on the learners who must complete their studies while preparing for the NEET.

Case Example:

A 17-year-old girl from New Delhi, Anika, mentioned that she has been preparing for NEET since the 10th grade. She attended one of the best coaching centers and started preparing for IAS for three years. But due to that she did not just fall outside the time expected for the task, she was rather frustrated that she had to write the exam again after missing a year. She also complained about the time and money that her family had spent preparing her.

4. Geographical Disparities

a. Urban vs. Rural Divide

Children in rural areas have a disfavorable learning environment as compared to those in urban areas. There are very few good schools in rural India that provide adequate preparation for competitive exams including the NEET. Furthermore, students from these areas have no option but to move to urban areas a situation that increases their financial cost as well as culture shock.

b. Facilities in Medical Colleges

This means that even when any student has a chance of joining any college, the quality of their medical education and the campus they find themselves in is not the same. In the Government medical colleges in rural areas, patients may not get the advanced facilities that are available in Urban Medical colleges and similarly, the faculty members teaching in these rural colleges unlike their counterparts in Urban institutions may not be experienced enough to provide equality to the students.

Case Example:

Vijay is one such student hailing from a tiny village in Tamil Nadu who underwent tremendous pressure to study for the NEET exam as there are not many credible coaching centers in his area. His studies were transferred to Chennai where he could be admitted to a reputed coaching center, something which was not only financially unaffordable to his mother.

5. Mental Health and Social Pressure

a. Societal Expectations

The medical profession is one of the most prestigious careers in India. Most learners are pressed by their families and society to study MBBS just because of its popularity even if they lack interest. This in turn brings about stress, depression, and anxiety due to perceived pressure upon the students to practice a certain profession which they do not have enthusiasm for.

b. Emotional Toll of Failure

The effects of these realities are that a student who has attempted repeatedly to clear an entrance examination and in whose social milieu the glamour of being a successful medical aspirant is entrenched brings actors of failure either in terms of not getting a seat or getting a low ranking, a sign of a lack of capability. Deaths due to depression or attempted suicide among the students seeking medical seats have brought into the limelight the stress most students go through at a personal level.

Case Example:

Pooja herself is a student from a middle-class family residing in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh who had always been persuaded by her family members for an MBBS degree. Yet she could not even qualify for NEET on a couple of tries. This resulted in extreme levels of depression and she even felt guilty to her family for failing to meet their expectations.

Conclusion

Striving for an MBBS degree in India is a dream that brings incredibly complicated conditions. The barriers include; Financial challenges/Financial stress/Financial strain/Financial difficulties/framework of financial limitations/Competitive pressure/Economic pressures/Pressure/Geographical disparities. Structural reforms including the policy areas of increasing the number of available seats in the medical college, the affordability of education, developing rural infrastructure, and promoting mental health care systems will help more students to aspire to MBBS without compromising.

Others could prepare a healthier and comparatively fair education model for future doctors and protect them from burnout at the same time.