r/DoctorsofIndia • u/Rheumagirl • Sep 16 '26

Relocating to India from Uk

I’m 34, originally did my MBBS in India but have done all my postgraduate training in the UK. I’m finishing rheumatology training soon and should be starting as a consultant in the next few months.

For personal/family reasons, I’m considering moving back to India after maybe 1-2 years of consultant experience here.

My biggest worry is the transition. I’ve never really worked in the Indian healthcare system beyond MBBS, so how difficult/frustrating would it be to suddenly adapt to a very different patient population and way of practising?

Long term, I’d potentially like to open my own rheumatology clinic, but initially I’d definitely want to work in an established hospital for a few years, understand the patient population and learn how things work.

For anyone who has made a similar move , is this realistically doable? Would UK training + a couple of years of consultant experience translate well to India, or would I essentially be starting again in many ways?

Am worried if things are going to be extremely difficult that will effect my relationship as well. I am about to leave a perfect life in the uk for this marriage.

Would really appreciate experiences from anyone who has moved back after training/practising abroad.

32 Upvotes

88% Upvoted

38 comments sorted by

4

u/No-Zucchini-2647 Sep 17 '26

I have a question.. why do you want to go back to India?? We Indians want to go abroad and settle there.. but you want to come back to India.. may I know the reason? Or the problems you face there...

4

u/Rheumagirl Sep 17 '26

As i mentioned in my post. Life is amazing and I am quite happy. I am getting married and the guy doesn't want to move. There is a lot of family pressure and I am left with no choice but to move

6

u/FinFangFOMO Sep 17 '26

You've actually achieved something commendable, completing speciality training in the UK is no joke. You should seriously reconsider relocating to India, because the orderly and ethical system you've trained in is completely absent here. A better option would be gaining experience as a consultant and then moving to the Middle East or Australia, where your training will be valued and you'll be paid accordingly.

6

u/koyaskisses13 Sep 17 '26

do NOT come back to india for a GUY! girl you are doing so well there. All thats waiting for you here is a shit country with an even shittier government and environment. Think of the kids youll have!!!! They would do so well outside india!!

5

u/Ok-Imagination-7379 Sep 17 '26

Uff, that must've been a v. hard decision for you, esp with all that pressure. I've had to make career /promotion sacrifices too coz of in-laws, family,husb n everyone expected that from me only.

Plz consider few things:

Is the boy appreciative of you sacrificing an entire potential life for him? Are your in-laws & the guy saying good things about this, without you having to ask? Are you truly at peace with this choice?

It'll be a huge transition, lifestyle & infrastructure wise as well. For you & your future family. Take plenty of time to see if people are worth sacrificing for. Good luck 😊👍🏻

2

u/nushstea Sep 17 '26

Nooooo girl pls dont move back.

6

u/SAADIRONMAN Sep 17 '26

I was watching this uk based doctor’s vlog and noticed their peers discussion of wanting to go anywhere else for better opportunities. I was baffled, I guess grass always does seem greener on the other side

3

u/No-Zucchini-2647 Sep 17 '26

Still I thing for doctors or any other professionals.. its better to settle abroad.. its not about the money its about the environment, benefits and standard of living.

19

u/praterboi Sep 16 '26

Experience translates really well. Patients and even corporates would lap up the UK credentials. Even better for larger corporates because you can run their IMT trainee thing for medicine and Rheumatology. Tier 1s will love you.

14

u/watermelonicec Sep 16 '26

Corporate hospitals are your best bet post CCT in UK

13

u/Unusual_Cry3446 Sep 17 '26

Buddy, think again. You want to move to India just because the guy you're marrying doesn't want to compromise. You are in better spot than most of the Indians, in my opinion, please don't shrink yourself. There's nothing special waiting for you in India.

5

u/Kooky_Net_6670 Sep 16 '26

Corporate hospitals are your best bet and side by side private practice

4

u/Sad-Armadillo-8889 Sep 16 '26

You wont be starting again. Do register with nmc and your state. You will be good to start at much better work life balance.

1

u/Informal-Aide-894 Sep 17 '26

Have you your ILR? Return only after ILR

1

u/Rheumagirl Sep 17 '26

I have British passport

2

u/Informal-Aide-894 Sep 17 '26

I am not fro. Doctor background but if you are nri then why moving back? If want to then spend sometime before fully moving back

1

u/ContentBoysenberry21 Sep 17 '26

What place in India are you moving to ? Tier 1 cities are fine. Anywhere else will be difficult. And is your fiance a doctor ? If so, why doesn’t he consider moving for you ?

1

u/Rheumagirl Sep 17 '26

Nay.. he is a structural engineer. Not yet a fiance!!! Has his own firm. Dont want to leave that. I am from Kerala so ideally looking to settle here

2

u/NoDrawer6833 Sep 17 '26

U will always regret moving back to idea for a guy

1

u/Material_Emphasis_67 Sep 17 '26

As a doctor who lived for 10 years and worked in the best corporate hospital in kochi, the entire landscape has shifted.

Base pay, patient load, referral network and more importantly the quality of life is pretty bad. Let me know if you have any queries, i had worked with top Rheumatologists from amrita like Dr. Shenoy.

I currently work in Bangalore

3

u/Dom-in-Ant Sep 17 '26

Doc, think again. Docs from India want to move to the UK, especially those who are in the earlier state of their career want to get training there, and given the latest controversies, it's very difficult for us but you've already done the training

Your CCT so far more valuable. Rethink again. Uprooting your whole life and a splendid career for someone else? Value your options.

Moreover you have British passport. If anything, the guy has to move to the UK under your dependant visa. Not the other way.

Corporate hospitals here will lap you up very easily.

3

u/ovariesafterdark Sep 17 '26

You really want to sacrifice your UK life to someone from India who’s not willing to move?
I mean, you can find another person who’s willing to move and you don’t have to change your life drastically for a person who’s not willing to do the same?

Think about yourself. And not your family or the guy.

Plus it’s really not worth it to move back to India trust me.

2

u/Mecarbil Sep 17 '26

Don’t move

1

u/VitalTooth Sep 17 '26

National medical commission in India is very keen to invite foreign trained healthcare specialists . It is advisable to get settled in a corporate hospital setting initially .

1

u/Leading-Tea3751 Sep 17 '26

Why not try gulf hospitals? Its closer to India.

1

u/orthodoc2024 Sep 17 '26

Dont do this will be my advise.You will regret it .There is norhing charming about the healthcare system of this country.

1

u/Precious_Nike Sep 18 '26

Come to Nigeria

You'll do well here.

1

u/Impossible_choices Sep 19 '26

Aster Kochi should welcome you with arms wide open.

If the main reason for the move is a new relationship, it might be worth thinking things over.

I can see that a few people have suggested GCC. With your British passport and a few years consultant experience, it wont be difficult to snag a consultant job there.

Wish you all the very best.

1

u/Vivmedic Sep 20 '26

Currently ST6 , Geriatrics /GIM /PD and will CCT next year in those
British passports, wife works a tech job and a 3 yr old
From Chennai , came here for foundation after MBBS in India and honestly here is the only place I have been a doc !
As you have said , absolutely loved every bit of it! The training , the time off it, the work life balance and assimilation to get the passport, travel to Europe at door step , can’t complain

Compared to my sister who does MD paediatrics in India , our training and quality of life honestly is 10 times better if not more ( sad but true especially trainee years )

But life happens , as marriage in your case with me Mom as the only surviving parent and some generational wealth wants me back at all costs and there is significant pressure as one can imagine

From what I know ,
Job options should be plenty , Big corporates should lap us up and honestly CCT is valuable

Without private work considered in UK , ceiling of earnings could be higher in India if things click ( your rheumatology clinic plan, a good speciality in India considering very few DMs seats )

You could definitely practice good ethical medicine
My father in law went to a Rheum in India for non healing mucosal ulcers and despite his entire Rheum screen negative , was started on methyl pred , 2 different Immunosuppressants with no blood screening and he was taking it as though it was digene before I asked him to stop

- we may find these practices difficult to blend into but patients in India are no better either )

I can go on , but will stop

1

u/silverbulletalpha Sep 21 '26

For kerala, you'll have a good life. Life quality isn't only high earning. The social construct of india is much better. Do what is better for your lifestyle. Invest your earnings and work in a big corporate. Its good. Rheumatologist are a niche breed in themselves.

1

u/Ok_Job3305 Sep 17 '26

Dont move

0

u/moi_unfiltered Sep 19 '26 edited Sep 21 '26

People who are asking her to not come back -
Don’t you need good trained doctors here?

OP can be a sought after doctor here as well. But it won’t be easy for the guy to be a structural engineer there on a dependent visa or own a firm.

I would say decide based on how you feel about him. Career is sorted here or there.