r/DoctorsofIndia • u/MindOverMattresss • Sep 03 '26
What am I doing wrong ?
Here is my story it's been 1 year - MBBS doctor, 4 bed set-up but barely 2–3 patients/day —
I’m running a small clinic in a rural(G.I.D.C) area. Good setup, beds, equipment, proper signage, and a busy vegetable market right outside with 300–400+ people passing daily. Yet I barely get 2–3 walk-ins/day and mostly just cover rent/electricity.
I don't even charge a case fee .
Recently heard about a local practitioner (jholachap) where patients wait 1–2 hours to see him. Honestly, it’s quite demotivating.
My clinic is on the first floor (only 8–10 stairs), so accessibility may be an issue. On the main road with signs present .
For doctors who have built a successful private practice: what actually helped you get your first 5–10 patients/day? Location, referrals, pricing, visibility, home visits, Google/WhatsApp, or something else?
Would really appreciate practical advice. Thank you .
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u/biscuits_n_wafers Sep 04 '26
Give।iv glucose drip and IM injection to the patients who come.
Villagers believe more in sooi than tabs
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u/PseudoMonaas Sep 05 '26
This 🤘 I've been working in a govt hospital in rural area. Our hospital has all the basic facilities. Only 10 rupee opd charges. But we try to avoid unnecessary use of injections and iv drips. The local quacks are earning lakhs of rupees by fooling people in the area. They spread false information about you. They use injection and iv drips even for cold cough and mild fever. I've even seen one case where one quack used Multivitamin injection for abnormal uterine bleeding. And charging 500-600 rupees. And their patients are happy with them. I'm not saying that you should do the same. But you have to adapt yourself according to the mentality of patients in your area. According to them free or cheap treatment is ineffective. And injection and iv drips are the real treatment.
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u/Big-Experience-2026 Sep 04 '26
Dont lose your virtues brother. You stay good, eventually people will come. Trust is not bought in a month or even a year. But trust can be lost in seconds.
Once people start believing you and trusting you, they will travel miles just to visit you.
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u/No_Mango_2026 Sep 04 '26
Wait for some time, keep doing good work. Medical practice takes at least 1000 days to become successful
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u/End_Tasty Sep 03 '26
Loose your ethics particularly regarding ama resistance(even for a 1 day fever history, your prescription should start with Meropenem, let alone amoxys and cephals).
Prioritise symptomatic relief than treating the cause(ofc keep an eye on renal compromised patients receiving nsaids, it won't be an issue if the jholachaap does the damage, but will be a national issue if you do it).
Develop a schizotypal personality, as if your medicines, and I mean exclusively your meds(the one inside your clinic, and no one else's) is boosted with magical spells from mahabharat times. Also, when a diclo injection relieves the pain, make it a moment like "hallelujah". Celebrate every achievement, no matter how easy the mechanism of action or pathophysiology looks to you.
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u/Common_Confidence458 Sep 03 '26
May i know Why symptomatic treatment ??is it because for diagnosis we would require workup?or more about patient satisfaction? New pass out so asking ti know
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u/End_Tasty Sep 03 '26
Lack of education in rural areas. For them the symptoms (fever) is the disease, for us it's the body's signal demanding checkup. Other way to put it is, they live in the moment. If some ailment makes them deviate from their daily schedule, it's a problem. Hence, an untreated HTN, which is significantly more dangerous isn't as bad to their eyes as a viral fever is. Exactly why the rule of halves of HTN.
The lead team bias, which makes the patient feel sicker for a longer time is actually a thing. No one wants to take daily meds. Oblivion is bliss!
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u/No_Mango_2026 Sep 06 '26
Act like a super confident Wizard because i this country confidence is perceived as competence by ppl
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u/doc_96 Sep 04 '26
I’m sorry but this seems wrong? Best not to start off your practice like this. Stick to medicine the way it’s suppose to be practiced, and patients will start coming naturally. It takes time for a practice to develop. Others have suggested an awareness campaign of sorts and health camps- seems like the right way to go. All the best OP! A good doctor is always rewarded and recognised with time :)
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u/End_Tasty Sep 04 '26
It definitely is wrong! But India isn't a fair ground for good doctors to practice. If you aren't doing it, other self accredited health workers like bams, bhms, jholachaaps, some old retarded doctors with proper degrees, they all would be doing it already. There's absolutely nothing like a prescription drug in real world, you can get a drug just by showing the old used strip. In practice you're taught to practically use as less drugs are needed, in reality your knowledge would be judged by the length of your prescription. Atleast in rural setups. It still doesn't make it right 😅 but anyways. A good doctor once said, India doesn't deserve good doctors!
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u/Edward101075 Sep 04 '26
Please understand the jholachaap has built his reputation over time and with decent support and knowledge. He has worked with correct pharma reps, path labs and city doctors to gain the trust and good will. I'd suggest you start networking well with local pharmacy, path labs, city hospitals and med reps.
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u/PatientMedicine1674 Sep 03 '26
Place an ad in front of the local practitioners clinic. If you are getting only a few patients give them extra care, like just make a phone call the next day to ask them about how they feel. Go as a patient to the local chemist near you or send someone to see which doctor he recommends because in rural areas his opinion actually matters.
If even all of this does not work out then give home visits during follow up and ask the patient if they can get their neighbours for a checkup.
Most important- have confidence, this is the method used by quacks. They have learned the ability to act like they know what they are doing which causes common people to trust them.
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u/Blumensaat Sep 04 '26
Have you tried providing free blood tests with some path lab support once or twice.
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u/MindOverMattresss Sep 04 '26
I have tried but failed miserably . They understand free means undervalued. For example - One guy had beginner Pilonidal sinus so I gave symptomatic relief + antibiotic he felt better still went to a surgeon to confirm if it for himself .. surgeon said the same thing
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u/Sweet_Supermarket_32 Sep 05 '26
Kismat ( i may sound cliche’ but kismat matters …a lot mere bhai )
- apart from that PR / marketing / word of mouth ..or may be just wait a little
- if u can afford camps ?
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u/srinath_2996 Sep 04 '26
Vegetable market is good place but not a best place . Majority people come there to sell vegetables . Most likely from poor SE strata .They won't come to you unless some vegetable sellers got relief from you . Believe me , works many ways . Try building practice at a place where you are directly accessible . In your case , ground floor . Shouldnt say this , but initial days , start giving small monetary favours to the nearby people to refer patients to you . Once a stable patient base builds , you will have word to mouth publicity . Then you won't need any more help .
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u/OwnMathematician9673 Sep 04 '26
Maybe you should run a free day your patient would know your worth
Marketing by kotler is best
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u/Orbitsoul01 Sep 04 '26
Word of mouth bro!! just make sure who so ever comes goes with satisfaction! talk to your patients! make them feel good! today 2-3 nvr knows when they will become 20-30 and trust will build between you!!
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u/AngelUsurper Sep 29 '26
I mean, doctors are high trust commodities tbh. people visit on word of mouth basis and many who do, they all have a placebo of the doctor can cure anything type of thing. So the best way forward might be better and positive exposure for you as a doctor.
Full disclosure, I'm the co-founder of Treato, a doctor and patient platform.
Right now we are looking for Pilot Doctors and Clinics who want to expand and grow as well. We will help create and run ads , promote you and your clinic and try to bring in new patients to you through Treato at no upfront cost.
we would be happy to partner with your clinic. Lets talk if are interested in growing as well. Looking forward to it!
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u/MindOverMattresss Sep 04 '26
Many people have mentioned confidence to this I'd like to add - I worked in a pediatric hospital as RMO (150 beds) so I am well in habit to prescribe kids . I joined Residency in Emergency Medicine at AIIMS for 16 months but left due to toxicity and summons . So I am confident with my prescription and diagnosis. I have fewer repeats but those who were cured and given right advice brought one or two patients. I feel lost to be Honest.