Healthcare: Profession That Will Be In Demand After COVID-19

The pandemic has changed the job market. For students, this is an opportunity to access what they want to specialize in. The healthcare industry offers many employment opportunities beyond being a doctor or a nurse.

Orthopedic doctor showing x-ray to a woman patient while standing in hospital corridor. Radiologist sharing the medical scan report with female patient on a digital tablet.

New Delhi: The pandemic seems to have managed to change the job market overnight, which can be a terrifying thought. Reports say that some jobs might become less in demand, while others might see a spike in demand, one of them being the medical and health sector. According to India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF) healthcare has become one of India's largest sectors both in terms of revenue and employment. The Economic Survey 2019-2020 found that the doctor-population ratio in India is 1:1456 against the WHO recommendation of 1:1000. Whereas, India suffers from a shortage of two million nurses (WHO, 2019). The nurse to patient ratio for India is only around 2.1 nurses per 1000 population. According to IBEF, the hospital industry in India is forecasted to increase to Rs 8.6 trillion (US$ 132.84 billion) by FY22 from Rs 4 trillion (US$ 61.79 billion) in FY17 at a CAGR of 16-17 percent. India aims to increase healthcare spending by 3% GDP by 2022. This means that there will be more opportunities to look out for in the healthcare sector. Reports say that employment in healthcare is anticipated to develop around 19% from 2014 to 2024, which is significantly more than the normal growth rate and is anticipated to generate employment for 2.3 million people. Aside from being doctors and nurse, which have pretty much a straight route ahead, here is a list of lesser-known career options in the healthcare sector: Speech Therapy: This branch of health sciences related to the disorder of speech, voice, and language of a person, which is gaining momentum in recent years. To become a speech therapist it is necessary to have a background in science, which is usually followed by a Bachelor and Masters in Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology. Sports Medicine: This considered to be a niche health care field that focuses on preventing and treating injuries related to sports and exercise. In sports medicine, you can be a physiotherapist, top-flight trainer, psychologist, nutritionist, or physician. The sports industry is a promising field to get into. According to a report, Sanjay Gupta said that India had the potential to touch $10 billion over the next five to seven years. Nutritionist/Dietician: Health and nutrition are gaining so much momentum, you can see that in social media alone. People are more conscious about what they are eating and hence, they always prefer consulting a nutritionist, a nutritionist can help with food management but a dietician takes into account the patient’s health, lifestyle, age, potential allergies, and food preferences.. To become a dietician, one must complete a Bachelor's and/or Masters's/PG diploma degree in Dietetics. Yoga Teacher: Becoming a certified Yoga Instructor has many benefits. You can practice on your own or join a Yoga center, the hours can be flexible which can be a very peaceful life. The Quality Council of India (QCI) that provides accreditation standards for various sectors, has developed this scheme which will certify all yoga professionals who aim to provide yoga lessons. If you want to get this certification, you can apply to QCI (offline or online). The certificate remains valid only for 3 years after which you would have to re-apply for certification. Pharmaceutical Management: India is the 3^rd largest producer of medicine in the world. According to IBEF, India supplies 50% of global demand for various vaccines. Medical device industries expected to grow by $25 billion by 2025. Pharmaceutical management does require a background in science as well as an MBA, the growth potential of the industry is huge considering the demand. Drug Inspector: Recruitment for Drug Inspector is conducted by Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) or various State Public Service Commission’s (SPSCs) after taking up Bachelors's and Masters in Pharmacy. Drug Inspector has the authority to cancel the license of such business units which are found having irregularities in terms of the compliance of standards related to safety, quality, and hygienic premises.