Rapid responses are electronic comments to the editor. They enable our users
to debate issues raised in articles published on bmj.com. A rapid response
is first posted online. If you need the URL (web address) of an individual
response, simply click on the response headline and copy the URL from the
browser window. A proportion of responses will, after editing, be published
online and in the print journal as letters, which are indexed in PubMed.
Rapid responses are not indexed in PubMed and they are not journal articles.
The BMJ reserves the right to remove responses which are being
wilfully misrepresented as published articles or when it is brought to our
attention that a response spreads misinformation.
From March 2022, the word limit for rapid responses will be 600 words not
including references and author details. We will no longer post responses
that exceed this limit.
The word limit for letters selected from posted responses remains 300 words.
Very apt article for the times GPs are in! I thought it is happening in our country but happy/sad to hear the same in UK. I am pessimistic about General Practice. The last vestige of the great profession is alive--soon it will be dead. No one wants to visit a GP or become a GP. Long hours of work, responsibility, huge income disparity - compared to software and back end industry, legal and financial services -- competing with quacks, etc. The earning capacity of individuals and the insurance which does not support General practice are also other causes for GP's decline. No doctor wants to enter General Practice. In our GP association there are no new GPs enrolled at all!
Though there is a specialisation for General Practice, large number of those who graduated are working as screening doctors at major hospitals wherein they are not allowed to take decisions. And they work as post man like referring the patients to respective specialities! Some have started home care services! And that is the way for survival and some a bloated income.
Most importantly it is extremely difficult to open a practice set up at urban centres because of huge rentals and other overheads like multipoint licences There is no future for General Practice unless there is support from the Government. The community suffers but who cares?
General Practice may not give a luxury life but it does give a reasonably satisfactory life. It is the only field where one can get engaged all the time by upskilling and be helpful to the community for decision making. Hope we will revive like the Phoenix !
regards
mohan
Competing interests:
No competing interests
29 May 2025
mohan devegowda
GP
none
Mohan's Clinic 613 2nd main road first stage indirangar Bengaluru 560038
Re: John Launer: Botox, lifestyle medicine, and future general practice
Dear Editor,
Very apt article for the times GPs are in! I thought it is happening in our country but happy/sad to hear the same in UK. I am pessimistic about General Practice. The last vestige of the great profession is alive--soon it will be dead. No one wants to visit a GP or become a GP. Long hours of work, responsibility, huge income disparity - compared to software and back end industry, legal and financial services -- competing with quacks, etc. The earning capacity of individuals and the insurance which does not support General practice are also other causes for GP's decline. No doctor wants to enter General Practice. In our GP association there are no new GPs enrolled at all!
Though there is a specialisation for General Practice, large number of those who graduated are working as screening doctors at major hospitals wherein they are not allowed to take decisions. And they work as post man like referring the patients to respective specialities! Some have started home care services! And that is the way for survival and some a bloated income.
Most importantly it is extremely difficult to open a practice set up at urban centres because of huge rentals and other overheads like multipoint licences There is no future for General Practice unless there is support from the Government. The community suffers but who cares?
General Practice may not give a luxury life but it does give a reasonably satisfactory life. It is the only field where one can get engaged all the time by upskilling and be helpful to the community for decision making. Hope we will revive like the Phoenix !
regards
mohan
Competing interests: No competing interests