NEET.
Lakhs of students across India appear every year for one of the toughest exams in the country, NEET. For those lucky enough to get a medical seat, it is usually after years of hard work and sacrifices.
But for many students from low-income families, making it into medical college is just half the battle.
When Saurabh secured admission to Grant Government Medical College in Mumbai, it should have been the happiest moment of his life. Growing up in a small village in Maharashtra, becoming a doctor had once seemed almost impossible.
Then, while he was preparing for NEET, his father suffered a heart attack.
Overnight, the family lost its only stable source of income. His father could no longer work regularly, and the responsibility of supporting the family fell on the rest of the household.
Still, Saurabh continued studying.
He took tuitions online, often battling academic pressure and financial stress at home. Months of preparation, mock tests, and relentless discipline finally paid off when he got a government medical seat.
But getting in brought on a new set of challenges.
Hostel accommodation, mess charges, books, travel, examination fees, study materials, and the day-to-day living expenses soon mounted. Government medical colleges are making education more accessible, but the cost of five years of medical training is still a huge financial burden for many families.
"I didn't just need money. I needed someone to believe I could do it," Saurabh says.
Stories like these reveal a less discussed reality of medical education in India.
Much of the public discussion is on the number of medical seats, new colleges, and doctor-patient ratios. However, for thousands of economically disadvantaged students, the challenge often extends long after they are admitted.
The costs associated with medical education extend beyond tuition fees. For first-generation learners, a family emergency, loss of income, or inability to meet recurring expenses can place years of effort at risk.
Many of these students come from rural and underserved communities that continue to face shortages of healthcare professionals. They understand firsthand the realities of limited healthcare access, long travel distances for treatment, and gaps in local medical infrastructure.
Today, through the GSK Scholars Programme, implemented in partnership with Buddy4Study and Foundation For Excellence (FFE), 564 medical scholars across 23 states are receiving support to continue their education.
But the figures conceal a bigger question.
As India prepares to increase its healthcare workforce, the conversation cannot end at admissions alone. It is important to help talented students get into medical college, but it is also important to ensure they can complete their education.
For many aspiring doctors, the hardest journey begins after they have already earned their seat.
