Internet and availability of cheap, English proficient labor made it possible to shift thousands of back-office jobs from the developed countries to the developing countries like India. Healthcare jobs like medical transcription were the key among them. Since no particular basic educational qualification was needed for an entry and pay packets were very much lucrative for a medical transcriptionist due to the high Indian Rupee conversion rates against US Dollar, many joined the bandwagon even some quitting their regular jobs like nursing. English language proficiency was the only necessity for a foray into this career. Having had that and gently nodded “yes,” medical transcription companies would have lifted one up from home and wouldn’t have let him/her sleep peacefully. Medical transcription training and production centers mushroomed up at a rapid pace. Dreams were sold of owning BMWs in a few months into this career. Now it is more than 1-1/2 decades since medical transcription arrived in India. How is this trade faring? Will you recommend anyone into this career now? Is medical transcription the right career choice for youngsters nowadays in India? What is its scope?
The fact remains far from the dreams sold. As in any other field, in medical transcription too, things transformed with the evolution of technology. At the initial stage, advancement in technology eliminated typewriters and tape recorders at the homeland itself. Later it eliminated the need to confine to offices/hospitals and allowed to move work across borders. The same evolution of technology started eliminating the need to type. With the advent of voice recognition softwares, the role of a transcriptionist changed from typing to editing the vomitus of voice recognition softwares. Though voice recognition softwares purportedly reduce workload, it is the other way round, forcing transcriptionists to work more, having to edit more number of lines to attain the prescribed workloads. Moreover, there is absolutely no career growth potential howsoever hard you work. Since the records pertain to healthcare, there is no room for error too. Furthermore, along with competition from countries like Philippines, the pay rates got deteriorated over time. Skyrocketing inflation and living costs further made a big dent on the bread at hand.
Many medical transcription companies closed shop or got converted themselves to medical transcription training centers or canvasing agents for the survived production centers. Being unable to survive the work pressure, limited scope, and less attractive pay, many MTs too dropped midway. Those who are still staying back are left with no other choice of changing career and are doing all that they could do to not let the paychecks shrink though beefing up their take-home pay is more a distant dream. They are counting their pay in meager paisas per line that even an uneducated physical labor working elsewhere for the same amount of hours is taking home a better pay than them. Hence there are medical transcription jobs available, but you don’t have candidates to fill those vacancies.
With the compulsion of migrating to structured data by 2014 and the advent of point and click applications like EMR operated by the physicians itself, the evolution is now reaching a phase of totally eliminating the role of a transcriptionist, leave apart any future legislation prohibiting offshore outsourcing of healthcare documentation jobs. May be the chances of surviving in this career is possible by transforming to something like a virtual assistant to a physician in due course and having the adaptability to weather all the future possible changes.
Conclusion: With so much of uncertainties in the future and with no guarantee of remaining in the same trade five years down the line and with a variety of other lucrative career options available, medical transcription is definitely not an attractive career choice in India at the turn of this decade (same is the case in the US too). May be it fits to be a part-time choice for homemakers who have no other option left but definitely not a full-time career choice for a youngster to start with, as it remains hard at this time even for the veterans in this field to find any ray of hope!
I concur fully with your views Raj bhai…..nice to read your posts after a looooooooooooong time…
Hi Dhiraj,
Though I am very much keen to update this blog and interact with you readers regularly, transcription work is keeping me at bay. I am off this week, hence back to blogging. Nowadays I am much very much thinking of dropping into the shoes of a blogger quitting transcription as full-time bloggers have ample time and income. May be if my alternate incomes equalize that of transcription for the time being, I hope to become a full-time blogger.
Thanks for the pep up Dhiraj. Hope you are still in the same trade.
yeah…..i am doing MT only, but in the meantime, i have completed a diploma course in accounting and am training under an accountant now (part time)………..may be someday, i will be doing MT part time and full time accountant job….#hopefully
Good for you. There are very good opportunities lying in the financial services sector. Why not try doing a CA or an ICWA? Even an inter can earn far more than an MT! Along with a CA or ICWA, if you have completed a one-year course/diploma in IFRS, then your earnings per month could run into lakhs. Keep improving your profile.
Raj,
I have been following your blog and nice to see your post after a long time. I completely agree with you. It is sad that we will be forced to find an alternative career soon.
Hi Chandra Mouli,
I’m glad to have one more friend and follower.
Yes, it is a hard pill to swallow but it remains the fact that medical transcription seems to be a sunset industry sooner than later. Transcription is going to be limited to editing just small narratives (the vomitus of VRs) where EMR cannot convey the desired message.
Raj
Hi, I had been in the transcription field when it started in India back in 1999. I worked in the field until 2003 and left the field as financially and mentally it was difficult to survive for me with a family of 3. I went into depression and l thought of changing my field of work. My wife also was doing the same job. We both quit and started a small catering service in our home town in Kerala which by our hard work has grown big. I would not suggest any new comer to enter this field. Now I am a very satisfied man enjoying my work.
You made the right decision at the right time Dhananjay.
Yes, medical transcription is a sunset industry. You are not compensated adequately for the hard work wherever you are; whether in US, India, Philippines or any Asian, African or Middle East country. The industry itself has scores of problems where nobody concerned is ready to address it. Yes, it would not be a good decision if a new graduate now thinks to choose medical transcription.
I too joined the fray in the same years as you did but I was able to cling to it until now; however, time has come for me too to think and accept change.
Hi,
I have completed my training about 13 months ago and also worked for more than 7 months and still working.
I am not getting as much salary as I expected it to be. It’s very hard in this field to survive. It all depends on your experience.
I am studying commerce, and I lost one year, dropped back due to the training and hardship at work and no time management. I do feel to get rid of it but as I remember of my so many days of struggle in this field, it does not allow me to change my mind. Please help me at this.
Hi Rizwan,
I discussed about this in my recent article. Read it here: Awful Future Prospects For Medical Transcription Career In India
Since you are young and have to set up a family and a home of your own, it is better to take a bitter decision now to switch career, quit this trade, and find a better opportunity than regretting later. You can just make a living in this trade but can’t own a home with your income in this trade.
Finish up your commerce degree, go for more credentials like CA or ICWA, and find better prospects in your arena than sitting back and cursing medical transcription, since medical transcription provides no opportunity to grow your income with respect to your hard work, experience, age etc.
Hi,
Thanks for the blog.
Actually I was planning to study medical transcription. Now I have to rethink on that.
Hi,,i was thinking to go into MT field,,,but after reading these blogs i got confused. What should i do whether MT or go for a Computer Accounting course
Better the latter.
This blog is very useful
i was an MT for the last seven years. this blog is absoluteley true because so companies have struggled due to lack of clients. my concern also faced the same problem in so many situations that time i took part time carrier in AMWAY no i am happy with it i got nice income and freedom too.
Hi Raj,
A nice blog and very true. I have been into this for 10+ yrs. What you think what are the options now? One thing I really wonder why youngsters are considering this as career options. Recently, there has been increase in trainee hiring. Some companies are finding Coimbatore as cheaper and moving there with training. I can’t understand how company/person be so cheap to play and ruin someone’s career by showing dream of earning lakhs a month. WTF.
It is better to move out than never for a MT already in this field. Experienced MTs have no options to grow their income while their friends elsewhere might already have moved up the ladder. Only when you turn back and look at your accomplishments at the age of retirement with relation to your friends should you regret your blunder of staying put. The future prospects are awful for medical transcription career in India.
There is already a cluster of companies in Coimbatore. Now it is like a blacksmith in a new town going for Smith Street! Birds of the same feather flock together. Employees often jump from company to company, as grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. By moving on to this cluster, MT companies are trying to capitalize this weakness. No other specific locational or infrastructural advantage is available in Coimbatore other than this. Mind that already many MT jobs have moved to Philippines due to relative advantages (with relation to India) of wage arbitrage, time zone advantage and American English, as Philippines once being a colony of US. Capital pursues attractive destinies.
At that time when I entered the arena in 1999, I was sold dreams of Landrovers, BMWs, and Jaguars. The fact was that it was even hard to earn for a motorbike. It is business for them to ruin someone’s life and insects are always drawn to flame howsoever you try not to.
i have taken training in keltron . I am finding it difficult to transcribe audio files. When I contacted them, you should practice. I am not able to transcribe or hear a single word. What to do. I had spent 20000 Rupees 3 months back. What should I do to learn. I am a housewife. Please guide me.
Wrong choice of trade for your proficiency. Seek better avenues in your competence.
You need to tune your ears and have a positive attitude towards what you do cheche!!
Hi guys!! I wonder why not a single person has give a positive thought on this industry. I have been in this field for the past 10 years and even today I am doing it with great interest. This industry is the best where one can be on his/her own shoes. The guys who have “Stuff” they can choose their own trade and mind their own business. This industry is for the people who want to earn a good salary with simple education, which this industry has not cheated. There are people in other fields who are just earning 5k and 6k, even with MBA AND MCA. This industry has bought work for 1000s of us in this Country and still it gives. Though EMR and technology creeps yet this industry will survive coz machines cannot do all the job. Editors and proofers are needed. Also this industry is going to be a platform for our Hospitals in India and most of the hospitals have come out with such transcription scripts and they are willing to take people who are trained in this industry. So guys one request, please don’t spoil this industry’s name just because you are not interested, coz there are quite a lot of people out there without earnings.. the only qualification is a good fluency in English and good EARS… Please reconsider and thanks!!
Hi Santosh,
I am Ashish. I joined a MT training program with an institution online. I am pretty confused of my career choice. Please guide me.
Can we speak over. My contact – 9826621511.
Thanks Raj sir…
Recently .. Someone told me about MT and said it has scope with nice pacakge . As the nice pay scale word attracted me and I almost decided to go for it without giving a second thought about its drawbacks ,if any.
I wanted to go for some job to b independent and carry on rest of my studies but i dont think MT would help me in corporate world . I m graduated from b.com (h) and now u want to do job for nice work experience which would b accepted by college and company in future .. Thanks your blog helped me .. N if I m wrong please correct me
I have nothing more to add. I think you should read my blog post on the future prospects of this trade as well, including reader comments at the bottom of that post.
Hi Raj Sir,
Thanks for the blog.
I am a nurse and was thinking about doing medical transcription on part time basis for some extra income. However, I first need to be trained and the fees charged for training is around 30k in most institutions. I don’t expect to be able to spend more than 3-4 hours a day once I start working. Do you think it will be worth all the hard work and money?
Part-time work in MT is a mirage. I doubt you’ll get any part-time MT work; you need to work at least one shift to win some meaningful bread. Sunny days in the MT are things of the past. I don’t think it’s worth the pain, effort, and money for a trained nurse to now switch to MT. You have wonderful opportunities elsewhere as a nurse itself.
If some training institute is assuring you work after a 30K course, beware, they are selling you dreams. You should get trained only at a production center.
Thank you Sir for the advice :)
Yes, I truly agree with you. I have worked in this industry for 15 years (since 2001) and the growth prospectus are absolutely nil in MT field. One still have to work like a slave just to meet his basic needs. Many top MT companies are just torturing machines who will set a daily target for you which will not be easy to achieve. Sometimes, one will have to work in odd shifts for a little more income. I would advice nobody to join this field. This is only good for those who is looking for a part-time job in their free time.
After spending a decade in bpo I m planning to switch over to MT from home as a full time.
Pls suggest if this is a good decision.
To get a clear picture, you may read about the future prospects of medical transcription in India.
Well, I am speechless…I just wanted to be able to do something on my own, especially with no one around to boss over me..with a little bit of medical background naturally MT is what that struck my mind..having read all of those above posts I have now been thrown into utter confusion..Whatever decision you make in your life, it comes with an element of risk in it..I understand that there are downfalls to MT industry, but doesn’t it allow us to work at our convenience ? is it not something great that there is no one around breathing down your neck ? Above all, doesn’t it give you the chance of being home, it does not stop you just in case you want to head out for a while, perhaps it could be for a consultation with a doctor for your kid, does it not eliminate the purpose of falling at the feet of your boss for a half day leave ? Could you name a job whereby you can be your own boss other than your own business ? Could you name a job where you decide your own salary ? Over to those who were sold the dreams of ( Blah Blah ), Do not fall for anything that is revolving around Get-Rich-Quick scheme, for there isn’t such a thing !! Let me wind up saying there is no job out there that makes you a Billionaire overnight. In this age of highly competitive market and unemployment on the rise, being able to make both ends meet itself is a such a great thing…
Hi,
I am from HR back groung and have 7 years experience, even though I forced to take carrier gap for my development delay son. I am planning to switch over to medical transcription ……because I can stay home and work for my sons purpose. I have heard about medical coding also……..is it a good carrier to go for medical coding.
As I have taken so many gaps it would be difficult for me to reenter in to HR field which need heigh responsibility…..that I may not could perform. On this context please guide me whether I should go for MT or medical coding …….Basically i do not like physical stress and tension as in daily HR works. That is meeting labour officers, grivience handling…like that. I am looking for a silent work place to be with computer only…..so please suggest me whether I should go for MT or Medical coding. As a silent platform to work.
Hi sir, am actually a nurse by profession but as of now being a mother of 2 yr old baby it’s difficult for me to go out and work.so do you think, MT would be useful in this situation . Is it a full time course ? Will i be able to study n work it from home on a part basis? Please guide me in this as I want some job that can be done from home.
Hi Raj Ji,
I would request to you to provide yoyr views, We have received a Matrimonial proposal from a boy for my sister ,boy is working in a company Altost Global Pvt Ltd. Noida ,As a senior analyst in medical transcriptionist. Is this a good company shall we can consider his proposal.
Regards,
Ashok
I would suggest, No.
Hi Raj
I wanted to join in MT field
M married n i want to work frm home
So is it good field
Can i join
R der any ups n downs in this field
How much salary can anyone get frm this field
No ups, only downs. Nothing good to write home. You’ll begin as a typist with a poor pay and end up as a typist poorer than you were earlier, since take-home pay is not at par with inflation and worth the effort you put in. To avoid regretting later, seek and pursue some other option.
Sir,
I am about to start a course on medical scribing. Is this good or bad to me for à better future? Please suggest me on this.
Things haven’t improved but gotten worse since I wrote this blog post. There won’t be any career improvement. You’ll start as a typist and will end up as a typist with deteriorating pay and living standards. Further interesting reading will be about the future prospects of medical transcription in India. Read it top to bottom including reader comments.
sir, thanks for the reply. one more thing, medical scribe and transcriptioning,both are same or not? one of the institute named Laurus institute offering me on job training on medical scribe and its salary of 38000/-, is it fake or not? please give me a reply, i am really confused.
Hii sir, I am a freshly pass out dental graduate. I was looking for non cliNical options after B.D.S ,then one of my friend told me about medical scribe. The company is giving 38k salary per month. Should I take the job as I am looking for career in non clinical field?
Hi, I have been a medical transcriptionist for almost 15+ years. My sincere advice to new comers is, “PLEASE DO NOT GET INTO MEDICAL TRANSCRIPTION OR MEDICAL SCRIBE.” All candidates fall for the lure of money. Initially it will be great, but you will get stuck with it after a few years. Your experience with medical transcription/scribe will not be entertained in any other industry except the same. If ever you would want to change your career, you will be in a land of nowhere. Please guys/girls follow your profession.
The major reason for the MT industry going down is because of the owners who bargained for lesser prices to get work from abroad. It used to pay well, but the greed to get volumes pushes them to get paid at lower prices and in-turn they reduced the salaries of employees. Trust me, in this 21st century this is only industry where the companies do cheap bargains on 5 paise and 10 paise and the owners have no shame in filling their pockets with penalties dumped on the MTs. MTs struggle with hard accents, bad audios day and night and are penalized in the name of quality, quantity, and finally they will argue with you on 5 paise and 10 paise payment terms.
The same players who screwed up the MT industry and getting into medical scribe and therefore we can expect the results. They will lure you with great promises but start putting their hands into your pockets later.
I request all freshers to be wise in choosing your careers. Please pursue your field of profession and get into this rut.
***Please do not get into this rut.
For information: Medical coding is a much more stable industry with good corporate standards. Only drawback, you will have to get certified and the cost for the exam is around 45,000 INR and you can apply only twice in a year. The training for medical coding may vary from 15-25K.
I used to be a trainer in an mt institute…I was asked to sell this course to a student from vernacular medium ….for flat 30,000 inr ….this girl didn’t have the basic qualities that mt industry requires….and there I was asked to lie to her….despite of her guardian asking me to give him a true picture so that money isn’t wasted on their part….imagine? Me a faculty…teaching being a noble profession has to lie to this girl…I’m not a marketing person…its my job to teach not sell lies….that’s the marketing departments job….I finally left this institute as a teacher….any thoughts on this raj? Would love to hear your views…
You do have to have an inner peace about your decisions. If you had saved the girl’s parents their hard earned money, you have done the right thing. Appreciate your honesty and integrity.
Thanks… I just felt I couldn’t cheat this girl…and at the same time I wasn’t happy too with the training institute…I finally left the job…but I got back to being a home-based mt for a long time. :-)
Hi guys, I have more than 15 years in MT industry. I fully agree with what Kumar has stated. For youngsters who are starting their careers, it might sound good as a pocket money kind of thing, but as you plan on family and your expenses rise, you will be at the same level where you started and your colleagues would have grown much bigger in terms of salary and position. This has happened in my case. I am still earning in thousands and my colleagues are earning in lakhs. Even an uneducated laborer now a days demands rupees 500 per day, but MT is not guaranteed that. If you are extremely extremely lucky, you may get a good account with good dictations and then hope to earn well; otherwise, there is no way in this field to earn so much with all uncertainties that this industry puts forth. It is much like farmer’s and middleman’s story, where farmer does all the hard work and middleman makes the money. This is the same in this field too. For youngsters, I would advise them to ask people who are in this field for a long time and then take a decision on this, though I would suggest a big “NO.”