As salaries soar, docs switch to hospital mgmt

Ahmedabad: A growing number of medical professionals are pivoting to healthcare management roles, driven by the rise of corporate hospitals and expanding career opportunities in the sector. Gujarat has witnessed a 35% increase in two-year full-time medical administration and management course seats, jumping from 135 in 2022 to 183 in 2024, while short-term and e-courses have seen an even steeper rise of 40%.
Dr Shubham Sharma, who chose to pursue a Master of Hospital Administration (MHA) at the Indian Institute of Public Health Gandhinagar (IIPH-G) after his MBBS, represents this growing trend. His gynaecologist father's experience in a hospital management role made him recognise the value of combining medical expertise with business acumen. "With the rise of several corporate hospitals, I believe I will have the opportunity to excel as a person who understands both the medical and management side of a setup," he says.
At IIPH-G, the MHA programme has expanded from 37 seats in 2022 to 50 in 2024. Dr Medha Wadhwa, the course coordinator, reveals that dental (BDS) graduates comprise 26% of students, followed by BHMS/BAMS at 21%, and physiotherapy (BPT) at 16%. MBBS graduates, while only 4% of the total strength, are showing increasing participation.
Prof Deepak Saxena, IIPH-G director, notes that career opportunities extend beyond hospitals.