Rooted in Legacy
India observes National Doctors’ Day every year on July 1, marking both the birth and death anniversary of Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy (July 1, 1882–1962). A celebrated physician, freedom fighter, medical reformer, and the second Chief Minister of West Bengal, Dr. Roy played a pivotal role in shaping India’s medical landscape. He founded key institutions such as the Indian Medical Association (IMA) and the Medical Council of India (MCI), and established vital medical facilities across Bengal. Recognizing his enduring impact, the Government of India instituted Doctors’ Day in his memory in 1991.
This Year’s Theme: “Behind the Mask: Who Heals the Healers?”
The 2025 theme casts a spotlight on the often overlooked struggles of doctors themselves, their emotional, mental, and physical challenges. Titled “Behind the Mask: Who Heals the Healers?”, it calls attention to the need for caring for caregivers. Stress, burnout, workplace violence, and neglected well-being among medical professionals are central issues highlighted under this year’s observance.
Significance: Gratitude Meets Advocacy
While the day is an opportunity to honour doctors’ tireless service, ranging from routine check-ups to life-saving emergency work, it also serves a larger purpose. It fosters public appreciation, encourages discourse on health system reforms, and advocates for improved protections, better infrastructure, especially in rural areas, and enhanced mental health support for doctors.
Commemoration Across India
Celebrations span the spectrum, from high-profile ceremonies in New Delhi where the President bestows the prestigious Dr. B. C. Roy National Award, to grassroots activities like free medical camps, health seminars, and felicitation events organized by hospitals, NGOs, and educational institutions. This award, instituted in 1962, is the highest honour a doctor can receive in India, recognizing outstanding contributions across medical and allied fields.
Dr. B.C. Roy: More Than a Physician
Born and educated in Calcutta, Dr. Roy furthered his medical training in the UK, earning dual fellowships (MRCP and FRCS) by 1911. Upon return, he founded landmark institutions in Bengal, such as R.G. Kar Medical College, Chittaranjan Cancer Hospital, and Jadavpur Tuberculosis Hospital, while simultaneously championing civic development. He was instrumental in conceiving towns like Durgapur, Kalyani, Salt Lake, and Bidhannagar. An advocate for women’s access to healthcare, he fostered medical services for women and advanced female medical education.
Why July 1 Over Others?
Although Doctor’s Day is observed on different dates globally, March 30 in the US, December 3 in Cuba, August 23 in Iran, India’s choice of July 1 is unique, as it honours both the birthday and the death day of Dr. Roy, encapsulating his life’s journey from birth to legacy.
Contemporary Challenges Facing Doctors
Several systemic issues confront the medical community today:
- Workplace violence: Incidents in hospitals, especially in emergency wards, have grown, prompting zero-tolerance campaigns this Doctors’ Day.
- Doctor-to-patient ratios: India hosts nearly 1.4 million registered allopathic doctors and 0.75 million AYUSH practitioners, translating to a doctor-to-patient ratio around 1:811, indicating a pressing need to scale up medical education.
- Rural healthcare deficit: Many Tier 2/3 cities and villages lack sufficient medical professionals and infrastructure.
- Mental health and burnout: Long hours, emotional stress, and chronic overwork take a toll. Calls are growing for mandatory mental health support systems within medical education and healthcare institutions.
Looking Forward
National Doctors’ Day is more than an annual tribute, it is a moment to reflect and act. Honouring every facet of a doctor’s life, from their skills and compassion to their vulnerabilities, is critical. This year’s theme urges society to ask: who supports the healers? Protecting and uplifting doctors is essential not only to health systems, but to the well-being of the nation as a whole.
As India moves toward universal health coverage, the role of doctors as healers, and as human beings, must be nurtured. National Doctors’ Day 2025 is both a celebration and a call to ensure that those who heal others are themselves supported, respected, and safe.
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