- In states like Oaxaca, Veracruz, and Guerrero, doctors’ salaries barely exceed 12,000 pesos a month.
- One of the consequences of having 2 jobs is greater wear and tear.
- In the end, it is one of the causes that promotes Burnout Syndrome.
In an ideal world, the fundamental professions in a society should be the best paid. Although in some countries this is the case, in others, such as Mexico, it is not fulfilled. The clearest sample can be seen with the doctors because, regardless of the importance of their work, they receive salaries that are too low. It is a situation that has been going on for decades and there does not seem to be a change in the short term.
The longest race in the world
Now, it is not only about the relevance of the field of health but also the long road that must be traveled. The journey to practice Medicine in Mexico begins from the very moment you decide to pursue the degree. Despite being one of the most sought-after professions, places at universities are scarce. This process is followed by the years of study at the university and when the time finally comes to graduate, a new stage of challenges begins.
It is a reality that the greatest satisfaction that can be received in a working day is the gratitude of the patients, but it does not mean that it is the only one. In the end, it is a professional job and therefore requires a fair financial compensation.
Doctors are sometimes accused of profiting from the health of patients, but this is not entirely true. The vocation of service is not fought with something as simple as receiving a worthy payment.
Mexican doctors must work double shifts
Through movies and television series, the stereotype of the wealthy doctor who has his own clinic and works with his own rhythm of life has been formed. Although there are cases that comply with this rule, they are very few. In addition, it should be taken into account that practicing this profession in Mexico is not the same as in other countries where there are higher economic rewards.
With the above in mind, The doctor and analyst Xavier Tello published a column on the portal La Lista in which he denounced an open secret. He points out that Mexican doctors are paid so low that most must work two jobs to live relatively decently.
In this way, there are thousands who work in the mornings in a hospital and in the afternoons they move to another for their second shift. Although they have a passion for their work, it is not an ideal situation for their own health.
How much does a doctor earn in Mexico?
Based on the Labor Observatory portal The average monthly payment received by doctors in Mexico is 17,366 pesos. But when analyzing the results by state there are quite noticeable differences. In some entities like Veracruz, Oaxaca and Guerrero hardly exceeds 12 thousand pesos per month.
Considering how strenuous a day’s work is, now imagining working twice as hard is a daunting task. It is clear that those who choose this path do not necessarily do so out of choice but out of necessity. While it is important to care about your patients, you can never neglect yourself. Before trying to take care of the health of others, pay attention to the person who appears in front of the mirror.
Given this scenario, fatigue and work stress are the first to appear and put those who work double shifts at risk. But as already mentioned, it is a path that most doctors take due to the low salaries of the profession in Mexico.