In clinical practiceContinuity and community
Family medicine and general practice
First contact, whole person, for years.
At a glance
- Training after MBBS
- General practice after MBBS and internship; three years more for the postgraduate route.
- Time and predictability
- Especially in own practice, where hours are yours to set.
- Geographic flexibility
- Primary care is needed everywhere, but practice rules and credentials differ by country.
- Room to build your own
- Own clinic, group practice and telemedicine are natural routes.
- AI exposure
- Documentation, triage and decision support will change daily work; the relationship stays at the centre.
Contents · 9 sections
The work
Looking after people of all ages for most of their health needs, coordinating specialist care and preventing illness. Much general practice in India is done by MBBS doctors; family medicine is also a recognised postgraduate specialty.
Where you might work
- Own or group clinics
- Primary health centres and community services
- Corporate and occupational health
- Telemedicine
Getting there
MBBS allows general practice. MD or DNB Family Medicine adds specialist training.
How long: General practice after MBBS and internship; three years more for the postgraduate route.
Skills that matter
- Breadth of knowledge
- Building trust over time
- Managing uncertainty without over-investigating
- Running a small business, if independent
The life it gives you
Among the most controllable careers in medicine, particularly in your own practice, where you set the hours. Isolation and evening clinics are the usual catches.
Primary care is needed everywhere, but practice rules and credentials differ by country. Own clinic, group practice and telemedicine are natural routes.
Money
A wide range, driven by location, reputation, clinic model and hours worked. Salaried corporate and public roles give stability; own practice gives control and risk.
What shapes income most
- Own practice or salaried
- Location and catchment
- Hours worked
Weighing it up
What it offers
- Control over your time
- Long relationships with families
- Possible soon after MBBS
What it costs
- Lower prestige in some circles
- Isolation in solo practice
- Breadth without the comfort of depth
On AI: documentation, triage and decision support will change daily work; the relationship stays at the centre.
Who may enjoy it
You may find this path suits you if:
- you like people more than procedures
- you want control over your time
- you enjoy running something of your own
Related paths
- Internal medicineThe detective work of adult medicine, across every organ system.
- PsychiatryMedicine of the mind, practised through conversation and care over time.
- EntrepreneurshipBuilding something of your own: a practice, a service, a company.
- Digital health and informaticsBuilding the health system’s digital layer.
- Public healthTreating populations rather than patients.
Further reading
- A GP who works four days a week, on purposeIn preparation
- Should a doctor start a clinic in 2027?In preparation