A viral video of a pharmacist claiming she was offered a monthly salary of ₹12,000 to ₹14,000 at a hospital, while a cleaner there reportedly earned ₹16,000, has reignited conversations about pay disparities in India’s healthcare sector. Although the comparison between different professions has divided opinion, the video has struck a chord with many pharmacists and other healthcare workers who say low entry-level salaries remain a persistent challenge despite years of education and professional training. The incident has sparked wider discussions on how skilled healthcare professionals are valued and compensated across the country.
Does India’s healthcare pay structure adequately reflect the qualifications, responsibilities, and contributions of pharmacists and other healthcare workers, or is it time to rethink how these essential professionals are compensated?
I remember seeing a job post where an MBBS doctor was offered around ₹60,000 per month, while a BDS doctor was offered only ₹30,000-despite the years of education, training, and responsibility involved. Many institutions still seem to undervalue the expertise and contributions of healthcare workers.
I personally think this discussion goes beyond comparing one profession with another. Every healthcare worker, including cleaners, nurses, pharmacists, technicians and doctors plays a vital role in patient care and deserves fair compensation for their work.
Every healthcare professional deserves fair pay. The issue isn’t that cleaners are earning more, it’s that many qualified pharmacists are being offered salaries that don’t reflect years of education, licensing and responsibility. It’s time to build a compensation system that values skills, accountability and contribution while respecting every role in healthcare.
