Today is Doctor’s Day.
For many, it’s a day of gratitude.
For some, it’s also a day of quiet reflection.
Because somewhere along the journey, many healthcare professionals have been asked questions like:
“Are you a real doctor?”
“What exactly do you do?”
"Can you actually treat patients?"
Those questions don’t always come from curiosity.
Sometimes, they come from a lack of awareness.
As a Siddha physician, I’ve experienced this myself.
And I know I’m not alone.
Many professionals across healthcare, including AYUSH practitioners, dentists, physiotherapists, pharmacists, nurses, psychologists, and other allied health professionals, have, at some point, found themselves explaining their profession before they could explain their work.
Perhaps we’ve spent too much time debating who deserves a title, and too little time appreciating why each profession exists.
Healthcare has never been the work of one profession alone.
Each profession brings its own expertise.
Its own responsibilities.
Its own strengths.
And its own limitations.
A surgeon cannot replace a physiotherapist.
A pharmacist cannot replace a nurse.
A Siddha physician does not replace an MBBS doctor.
And no single profession can meet every healthcare need on its own.
Different paths.
One purpose.
To reduce suffering and improve lives.
This Doctor’s Day, I celebrate everyone who has dedicated their life to healing, through treatment, prevention, rehabilitation, research, education, or compassionate care.
Because respect isn’t a limited resource.
Recognizing one profession should never mean overlooking another.
Happy Doctor’s Day to everyone who serves humanity through healthcare
MBH/PS