General Physician
Qualified doctor who examines patients, diagnoses illness, prescribes medicine and refers to specialists.
Overview
A General Physician is a qualified professional who examines patients, recommends and interprets medical tests, identifies diseases or any illness and prescribes medicines. They also refer patients to other healthcare specialists when required.
Where they work
- Private and Government hospitals
- Polyclinics
- Pharmaceutical companies
- Medical education institutes
- Non-clinical settings like government agencies, NGOs and insurance companies
Work environment
It involves extremely long working hours. You will not only be attending to patients but also managing teams of nurses and medical technicians. Entrepreneurship: you can set up your own private clinic.
Opportunities for work exist for differently abled in this field.
Skills and interests
This career might suit you if…
- You like to help others
- You have a scientific bent of mind
- You are comfortable in communicating with others
Eligibility and education roadmap
Please check the duration of the course during enrolment.
Route 1
- 1Complete 10+2 in the Science stream (Physics, Chemistry and Biology)
- 2Complete a Bachelor's degree (M.B.B.S.)
Alternative route 2
- 1Complete a Bachelor's degree followed by a Master's degree (M.D.) in the same field.
- 2For admission into MBBS, you must clear entrance exams such as NEET conducted by NTA, NEET PG conducted by NBE, NEET MDS conducted by NBE, AIAPGET conducted by NTA and so on.
Forms, exams and applications
NEET (conducted by NTA) for M.B.B.S.; NEET PG and NEET MDS (conducted by NBE) and AIAPGET (conducted by NTA) for postgraduate study. Check the official notification for current eligibility and dates.
Exam names above are as printed in the source card. Application windows, eligibility and syllabi change — always check the official notification for current dates.
Where to apply
The course is offered by MBBS colleges. This list of institutes is indicative only.
Government institutes
- All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi
- Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh
- S.C.B. Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack, Odisha
- Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh University College of Medical Sciences, New Delhi
- Calcutta Medical College, Kolkata, West Bengal
- Madras Medical College, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
- GS Medical College, Mumbai, Maharashtra
- West Bengal University of Health Sciences, Kolkata, West Bengal
Private institutes
Please check if the institute is affiliated and accredited before applying.
- Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu
- St. John's Medical College, Bengaluru, Karnataka
- Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, Karnataka
- Hamdard Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, New Delhi
- Integral Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
- PSG Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu
- SGT Medical College Hospital and Research Institute, Gurugram, Haryana
- KPC Medical College & Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal
These institute lists are indicative examples from the source card, not a ranked or complete directory. Always verify accreditation on the institute's official website.
Career outcomes
Growth path
- 1Intern
- 2Junior Physician
- 3Physician, General
- 4Senior Physician, General
- 5Head of the Department
- 6Medical Director/Superintendent
Expected income
₹16,000 – ₹2,00,000 per month
These figures are taken from NCS and are indicative and subject to change.
SourceRelated careers to explore
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Medical expert in the care of the heart and blood vessels, including heart rhythm and heart failure.
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Doctor who treats conditions by operating — as a general surgeon or in a surgical speciality.
Student action plan
What you can do this month
- Read this whole roadmap and note any subjects, exams or institutes you don't recognise yet.
- Talk to a teacher or school counsellor about how your current subjects connect to Science.
- Look for a school club, competition or online course related to helping people.
- Shortlist 2–3 institutes from the list above and check their official website for current admission details.
- Save this career and compare it with 1–2 others you're considering.
Example from the field
Dr. Nandana Jasti — A renowned Internal Medicine Specialist in Hyderabad who currently practices at Medicover Hospitals at Hitec City, Hyderabad. She pursued an MBBS degree from Kasturba Medical College, Manipal and MD-Internal Medicine from State University of New York, New York. For the past 16 years, she has worked as a General Physician and gained proficient skills and knowledge in the segments.
SourceThis profile is shared for training/educational purposes only, as printed in the source card.
Sources and update notice
- Career card source: Exploring Career Paths with Career Cards, Volume 1, printed page 351 (NCERT / UNICEF India / PSSCIVE Bhopal, First Edition, April 2025).
- Income source: https://bit.ly/3Ist5R3
- Last reviewed on this site: 2026-08-21
Eligibility, fees, exam patterns and admissions change often. Always verify current details on official institute, exam-body or government websites before making decisions.