Dr. Gurjot Marwah - It Is Like When You Become a Soldier You Have to Be Always Ready for the War. Pandemic Is Like a War for Doctors (Dermatologist from India)

Dr. Gurjot Marwah

If you want to be a doctor you have to be highly motivated and inclined towards Health Care

Tell us about your upbringing, background and journey?

I am Gurjot Marwah. I am a Dermatologist. So, from the very beginning, I was programmed to be a doctor. I came from a Dermat’s family that’s why I was always inclined towards Dermatology.

About my journey, I feel Dermatology is the most practical branch if you want to have a life because it has fewer emergencies. You can be a doctor and still have a life.

Why did you choose to be a doctor and decide what you specifically want to do?

I have seen my family work so hard all throughout. The happiness you see on the patient's face and they are so thankful to you, makes me happy. Also, the amount of respect you command is something I always wanted growing up.

Why Dermatology? It’s because I come from a Dermatologist background. It's always easier to join something which is already set up than to set up your own thing especially in today’s world because it is very very competitive to start a new thing.

We salute your work during the pandemic, where did you get the inspiration to work so hard?

When you became a doctor, you treat people and during covid, you have to serve the maximum patients. It is like when you become a soldier you have to be always ready for the war. Pandemic is like a war for doctors. So, if you are a doctor you are already inspired to do, so the external inspiration is required.

How do you expect digital health to grow over the next 5 years?

I am a huge believer in Digital Health. I am someone who runs an application called ‘Fibon’. It is a diagnosis platform for Digital Health Care or Dermatology. I have invested financially, knowledge and efforts into Digital Health. It is what the future is.

What are your concerns about Digital Health?

Digital Health has to be in the right hands. It has to be controlled by someone. It cannot go to Quack. There has to be some checking before someone list in the Digital Services.

For example, when it comes to Dermatology there are a lot of quacks. There are many people who don’t have any degree they have just done some beautician course and trying to register as Dermatologist. 

When it comes to Digital, there is no awareness. There has to be a background check especially when it comes to Dermatology. Employing authenticated doctors is important, people who have valid degrees, not people who have done some online course, beautician course become then it can cause more harm to patients.

The second concern I have is, for certain things you have to meet a doctor, certain things cannot be done online. Although, when it comes to Dermatology, a vast majority of it can be done online. But for a certain situation, you have to meet a doctor in person that cannot be done over video consultation. 

Can you let us know any one application of Digital Health in your country which has impressed you?

Fibon is the application that is made by me. Fibon is the Dermatology Diagnosis Platform. Anywhere you are in the world, you just have to send us a picture and we send you a diagnosis of what your skin condition is in just Rs.99 in just 15 minutes. 

This is my contribution to Digital Health. It is not only in India, It is available in Germany and Canada as well. We are planning to go worldwide next year. 

What is your message for aspiring doctors and the young generation?

Choose medicine only if you are very sure about it. There is a belief that your life is sorted once you become a doctor, but it's not like that. It takes 10-15 years after becoming a doctor to actually get established. 

Those 10-15 years are something no one talks about. The curb to becoming a doctor is very long. Make sure you are very motivated throughout. If you are not motivated and you think like I will just finish it and I will be successful. Then you should go for other professions. If you want to be a doctor you have to be highly motivated and inclined towards Health Care.

What does your typical day look like and what do you like to do besides work?

I usually wake up at 8 in the morning. I go to the gym 4 days a week. I have a clinic which starts at 10am. I work every day Monday to Saturday and even alternative Sundays from 10am to 7pm. When I get back, I am pretty much tired. Sometimes I work on my app a little.

Besides work, I like to work out, play tennis or watch some series on Netflix.

Interviewed by - Yashika Khanna