How Does the Income of Govt Doctors Compare to Private Practitioners?
To determine the income of Govt. doctors compared to private practitioners, a number of factors should be considered, like, the type of employment role, the specializations of the doctor, location, educational qualifications, etc. Get the full insights here!
The income of private practitioners is generally higher than that of government doctors. However, not all private doctors earn more than government doctors. The salary usually depends on multiple factors, like the job role, areas of specialization, location of employment, work experience, skillset, educational qualifications, and level of expertise. Medical aspirants need to take the
NEET UG exam
, get a good score and pursue MBBS from a recognized college to practice medicine in the country.
In India, the medical sector of employment is highly respected and well-compensated across all types of industries, private or government. However, in terms of salary structures, a doctor's monetary compensation is different in the private and government sectors. On average, the approximate monthly salary structure of a government doctor may range between INR 40,000 to INR 1,50,000 based on their level of experience, whereas the salary structure of a private doctor may range anywhere between INR 70,000 to INR 2,10,000 for the same role or expertise. The disparity in monetary compensation is noticed primarily due to the varied employee benefits and scope of career growth offered. Here are the details!
Government vs Private Doctor Salary Comparison
A detailed salary comparison of government doctors vs private practitioners is as follows:
Particulars | Experience Level | Government Doctors Salary Structure (Monthly) | Private Practitioners Salary Structure (Monthly) |
Entry-level | INR 40,000 to INR 60,000 | INR 60,000 to INR 80,000 | |
MBBS Course | 1-4 Years | INR 70,000 to INR 1,00,000 | INR 70,000 to INR 1,50,000 |
MD/MS | 1-2 Years | INR 80,000 to INR 1,50,000 | INR 1,00,000 to INR 1,70,000 |
Super-Specialist | 3-4 Years | INR 1,50,000 to INR 2,70,000 | INR 2,00,000 to INR 3,00,000 |
Why is Private Doctor Income in India Higher than Government Doctor?
Usually, a government Doctor salary in India is not as high as a private Doctor. Here are a few reasons why:
Government doctors extract a fixed salary every month as per the 7th Pay Commission. Private doctors can set their own consultation fees and charge per patient or even per procedure.
In private practice, Doctors have the flexibility to see more patients daily, increasing their earnings.
Successful specialists in metro cities often have a long waiting list, allowing them to charge premium fees.
Private doctors can make money from multiple sources like online or offline consultations, surgeries & procedures, tie-ups with hospitals, corporate contracts, medical tourism, medical lectures etc. Government doctors have only one source of income.
Highly specialized doctors in fields like Cardiology, Neurosurgery, Oncology, and Cosmetic Surgery earn much more in private practice than in government jobs.
- Top private hospitals like Apollo, Fortis, and Medanta pay specialist doctors INR 5 lakh to INR 20 lakh per month, which is much higher than the government salary.
Income of Govt Doctors Compared to Private Practitioners: Final Verdict
Here is the final verdict of how the income of government doctors compares to private practitioners:Factors | Private Doctors | Government Doctors |
Salary | INR 1,00,000 to INR 50,00,000/month | INR 60,000 to INR 3,00,000/month |
Job Security | Low, depends on patient flow | High |
Income Growth | Regular but slow | Rapid increase in reputation and experience |
Work Flexibility | Fixed hours | No fixed hours |
Earnings from Surgeries | Paid per surgery | No extra payment |
Specialist Earning Potential | Limited | Not limited |
It is often noticed that private hospitals and clinics offer lucrative monetary benefits to Private practitioners to attract and retain skilled doctors at their workplace. On the other hand, government hospitals usually offer a standardized monetary compensation structure to doctors, generally lower than the private healthcare industry, however, with additional job security and other employee benefits.