Trailblazing Surgeries and Human Touch: Dr. Sandeep Gupta’s Medical Voyage

Charu Bhatia, Senior News Editor, Business Remedies, in conversation with Dr. Sandeep Gupta, a renowned Urologist in Jaipur

From humble beginnings in Haryana to becoming one of Jaipur’s most respected urologists, Dr. Sandeep Gupta’s journey reflects perseverance, inspiration, and relentless commitment. In this exclusive conversation, he shares his early influences, professional path, challenges, and his vision for the future of healthcare in India.

Question: You are one of the most renowned urologists of Jaipur. Please tell us about your journey so far. How did you step in the medical field?
Answer: Well, I would say my first and foremost inspiration has been my father. He is a government doctor who served in a Primary Health Centre in a village in Haryana. He commanded a huge respect due to his profession. In PHC, he fulfilled the duty of being an agricultural surgeon. And I used to watch him do that. We originally belong to Rewari district in Haryana. If I talk about my early days in school, I had always been a meritorious student. Till my eighth standard, since my father was posted in a village but always wanted us (me and my sister) to study in a good district school, we had to struggle to go to school. For the school (which was in Rewari) which initiated its daily activities at 9 AM, we had to start at 6:30 from the village. The school bus services were not available there and therefore; we had to travel by government buses and the condition of the buses was pathetic. However, we managed the tough times. After my eighth class, we got transferred to Rewari and I continued to excel in my studies alongside I tried my hands at extra co-curriculars also, where too, I excelled. In my secondary section, I studied intensively and at the end, I was able to earn a record-breaking achievement which was clearing PMT examination at the very first attempt and got my admission in SMS medical college, Jaipur. I would say I lived my college life fully. Studied and explored various branches of medical science. I always dreamt of becoming a surgeon. Made a lot many quality friends, with whom I am still connected. I was also able to clear many medical services’ examinations conducted by UPSC. Post my graduation, I did my MS from Banaras Hindu University. I had already decided (when I was in college) to pursue a super specialization too in the branch. I learnt and practiced in IKDRC for six years in Gujarat, which is the only dedicated hospital for urological problems. After a point, I decided to move to serve the people of Rajasthan and Haryana with the advanced medical and surgical skills I had acquired and therefore, shifted to Faridabad, where I joined Fortis before finally moving to Fortis Jaipur in Rajasthan.

Question: How has the journey in Fortis Jaipur been so far?
Answer: When I came to Fortis Jaipur, the department was in its primitive stage and even had lack of proper equipment required for performing surgeries. With time and appropriate interventions and suggestions (which met high amount of initial resistance), I was able to introduce high-end technology and required equipment in Fortis. During those times, patients never wished to opt for laparoscopy and transplants. I remember suggesting patients these kinds of surgeries and then they went to other doctors for second opinions. But I remained adhered to the fact of using new and advanced medical surgeries as the solution. And then there was no looking back. Till today, I have performed almost 300-400 transplants and have to my record many first-time surgeries. I introduced the technique of Urolift in Fortis and performing laparoscopy on donors. If I talk about my favourite kind of surgery, I would say paediatric surgery. When I started performing laparoscopy surgeries, there were only few who advocated it as it was considered as experimental in those times but today, the situation is being mad behind laparoscopy. In recent times, I have also performed Robotic surgery which was first of its kind in Fortis.

Question: That is wonderful. Today, we hear so many cases where patients are highly dissatisfied with the outcomes of surgeries. How do you see intersection of medicine and law and how does society view doctors as? Was the legal aspect included in the curriculum of your medical studies and if it was, till what extent?
Answer: Well, if we talk about the legal aspect, yes, there is a paper which regards to medico-legal affairs in MBBS. I would say there are many laws which are formulated for medical practices. But the point where we lack behind is the weakened relationship between patient and doctor. It is very crucial to enhance and develop soft skills with patients and to comprehend their psychology. A balance has to be discovered in doctor-patient relationship. Regarding the dissatisfaction of patients with respect to surgeries, I would want to say that doctors’ intent is never to perform a wrong operation. Why would we do that! Such actions which could negatively impact his practice. Medical Science is an evolving field. What was preferred earlier is not acceptable today and what is accepted today would run out of preference in the coming times. For instance, earlier, studies were centered around impact of fats/lipids which is gradually losing its way to sugar these days. The most dangerous thing which a patient does is search medical information and treatment on Google, which is very generalized and debate with doctors about it. Internet doesn’t filter the required medical condition and proper diagnosis for specific patient. Patients also need to have an open mind and understand their doctors well.

Question: How do you see inclusion of technology like AI into medical science?
Answer: I think it is a welcome step. AI can be useful for processes like CT scans, MRIs, analysing blood samples, etc. Data can be stored and utilized for many processes effectively. Only in consultation, I believe, a physical interaction of doctors with patients is required. In the present scenario, we use nomograms, which renders us the probability of having a good or bad outcome. If it gives the probability that the success rate of a particular surgery will be 90 percent, that means 10 out of 100 patients can have an unsuccessful outcome, which further means that those 10 patients would have to face the consequences of an unsuccessful surgery, which is already predicted.

Question: What do you expect of the government with regards to aid in development of medical sciences?
Answer: First of all, I would want the common perception of people regarding doctors that they are money makers or are establishers of big businesses to dilute. Being a doctor is in itself a very noble profession. There is a huge gap between the treatment meted out to private doctors and to government doctors. When any case becomes unsuccessful in a private hospital, matter is escalated to a heightened extent. However, private hospitals are more legally compliant as compared to government hospitals. If anything goes wrong in a government hospital, there are no mentions. Most of the private hospitals are NABH accredited, which is a set of rules ensuring patients’ safety. Laws exist but there are many loopholes in them for which doctors are penalized. Seventy per cent of the healthcare industry is in the private hands and this has been serving as an employment opportunity for many, which is why it is very significant for finance and economy sector of India. Government schemes have been existing from a long period like Bhamasha Yojana, but their advantages are not being delivered to the people who really require them. That issue should be solved. If we talk about technical richness of medical procedures, then, Rajasthan is one of the most lagged behind. That is why patients still prefer metros like Ahmedabad and Mumbai for medical surgeries. For instance, the Robotic surgery introduced recently in Rajasthan, had been introduced a decade before in other states. The resources that government provides should be free and subsidized. What I believe is that private and public sector could co-exist in a symbiotic relationship for the larger purpose of providing better healthcare services to the society.

Question: What advice you would like to give to our young readers who would like to make a career in medical science field?
Answer: I would say join in only when you can put a lot of efforts for many years. A person enters at the age of 18 for MBBS and comes out at the age of 32, becoming a doctor. That is the entire young adulthood of his life! It is a secured and a noble profession but be ready to toil hard and sweat.