Doctors' Day 2025: What India’s White Coats Really Want From Their Patients
July 1 marks National Doctors' Day in India, and it is observed to honour the birth and death anniversary of Bharat Ratna Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy, a legendary physician, freedom fighter, and the second Chief Minister of West Bengal. He was a pioneering figure in Indian medicine and instrumental in establishing medical institutions like the Indian Medical Association and the Medical Council of India.
In India, doctors are respected for the noble service they tender to the patients. As India celebrates National Doctors' Day, what are its doctors thinking, hoping, and counting on? “As a doctor, I wish my patients…” – Now, that is a phrase that reveals the human behind the white hospital coat — the caregiver who sees not just symptoms, but stories.
On India’s National Doctors' Day, we turned the spotlight on India’s physicians and asked them: What is that one heartfelt wish you hold for your patients? From valuing prevention over cure, trusting the process, prioritising emotional health, and recognising early symptoms—these powerful reflections are less about prescriptions and more about partnership.
Dr. Anjan Siotia, Director - Cardiology at BM Birla Heart Hospital: "As a doctor, I wish my patients understood that prevention is just as important as cure.
Far too often, we see patients coming in during an emergency or distress. By then, the condition has already progressed and our options become limited. I wish more people would care for their health before reaching this point, when prevention is still possible and far more effective."
Dr Siotia suggests simple steps — like regular check-ups, stress management, healthy habits, and early conversations — as these can go a long way in protecting health and making medical care more impactful and rewarding.
Dr Smit M Bavariya, Cataract, Glaucoma & LASIK Surgeon at Aditya Jyot Eye Hospital (a unit of Dr Agarwals Eye Hospital, Wadala): “As a doctor, I wish my patient shows enough trust and confidence on our decisions, because that will help us to deliver best results for them.”
Dr Shreya Gupta, Fertility Specialist at Birla Fertility & IVF, Lucknow: “As a doctor, I wish my patients would understand and work on their emotional health as much as they focus on their physical readiness.
As a fertility specialist, I always advise them regarding the importance of mental well-being in the science of conception and I hope going forward, people will truly imbibe the concept of mind and body connection for overall and reproductive welfare.”
Dr. Neha Kumar, Senior Consultant – Gynaecological Oncology, Amrita Hospital, Faridabad: “As a doctor, I wish my patients never ignored their body’s whispers—because early detection in women’s cancers can be the difference between fear and freedom.”
“On this Doctors' Day, my heartfelt wish is that every woman prioritises her health as much as she does that of her family. I see too many brave women walk into my clinic too late, having brushed aside abnormal bleeding, pelvic pain, or fatigue, thinking it's "nothing" or "just stress." These silent alarms are often the earliest signs of something serious. In gynaecological cancers, time is not just precious—it’s life-saving.”
Dr. Preeti Singh, Chief Medical Officer at Lissun (Mental Health platform): “Today, I honour every doctor who walks this path quietly and bravely not for recognition but for the relentless pursuit of hope, comfort and dignity in the lives we are privileged to touch. On this Doctors' Day, I urge everyone to pledge safety for the doctors you cross paths with. So many unfortunate incidents of physical and sexual violence are not what doctors deserve or sign up for when they commit themselves relentlessly to serve patients. It's time we stand up for them.”
Dr. Reema Bhatt, Senior Consultant and Head– Foetal Medicine, Amrita Hospital, Faridabad: "As a doctor, I wish my patients knew that the bond between mother and child begins long before birth—and that caring for it starts with mindful decisions during pregnancy. I wish expecting parents followed their antenatal visits with diligence, sought timely interventions when advised … and feel empowered, not anxious, as medicine has advanced tremendously, and many complications detected early can be managed or even corrected. But this requires trust, timely action, and partnership.”
Dr. Ajay Sharma, Founder and Chief Medical Director of Eye-Q Eye Hospitals: “At Eye Q, National Doctors' Day is deeply personal to us because it is a moment to reflect on why we do what we do. For our doctors, it is never just about performing a procedure — it is about changing the trajectory of someone’s life… With over 6 lakh surgeries and 1 crore screenings across 30 centres, our journey has shown that skilled, compassionate doctors can bridge the healthcare gap in India’s smaller towns.”
Dr. Ashish Gautam, Senior Director, Robotic and Laparoscopic Surgery, Max Super Speciality Hospital, Patparganj, New Delhi: "As a doctor, I genuinely wish my patients would take recent or continuous weight gain seriously. It needs to be seen as a health concern, not just a cosmetic issue. Obesity is often at the root of many other health problems, such as type 2 diabetes, joint pain, dyslipidemia, PCOD, and even thyroid-related issues. Ignoring weight gain allows these problems to creep in quietly. It’s always better to address it early and prevent these complications rather than deal with them once they set in."
Dr. Sharmila Tulpule, Orthopedic surgeon and regenerative medicine; Founder & Director, Orthobiologix Biotech Pvt Ltd: “As a Doctor, I wish my patients to wake up each morning with renewed vitality, to live in the best way they can without pain or limitations, to feel truly empowered in their healing journey, and to know they are not just treated but seen, heard, and cared for wholeheartedly. May each step toward recovery be full of hope, clarity, and confidence!”
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