Dr. Ganesh Baraiya's journey from a Supreme Court victory against the medical council to serving as a government doctor inspires many.
Bhavnagar, Gujarat – Dr. Ganesh Baraiya, who stands at three feet tall, has begun his medical career as a medical officer at a government-run Primary Health Centre (PHC) in Bhavnagar, five years after a landmark Supreme Court ruling allowed him to pursue his dream of becoming a doctor.
In 2018, the Medical Council of India (MCI), now the National Medical Commission, had disqualified Dr. Baraiya from pursuing an MBBS degree, citing his short stature due to dwarfism. The council's committee argued that he would be unable to perform essential duties, including emergency procedures, because of his height. This decision denied him a place in medical school despite clearing the entrance examination.
Determined not to give up, Dr. Baraiya, then 18, challenged the decision. He first approached the Gujarat High Court, which upheld the MCI's decision. Undeterred, he took his case to the Supreme Court of India. In a significant judgment in 2018, the apex court ruled in his favour, stating that his disability should not be a barrier to his education. The court affirmed that he was eligible for admission into the MBBS program.
Following the verdict, Dr. Baraiya enrolled at the Government Medical College in Bhavnagar. He successfully completed his MBBS degree and is now undertaking his internship at the Sir-T hospital, affiliated with the same college, before serving at the PHC.
Speaking about his experience, Dr. Baraiya has stated in multiple interviews that while patients are often surprised by his height initially, they quickly become comfortable and cooperative once he begins his work. He expressed immense satisfaction in being able to serve the community and fulfill the dream he fought relentlessly to achieve.
Dr. Baraiya's story is a powerful testament to perseverance against systemic hurdles. His legal victory has set a precedent, challenging discriminatory norms and paving the way for other differently-abled individuals to pursue careers in medicine and other fields from which they might have been previously excluded.
He is currently serving his duties as a medical officer, handling numerous patients daily and has been warmly accepted by both his colleagues and the local community he serves.