Archive · 5 Aug 2026
The First Patient Is You: Doctors Urged to Prioritize Self-Care
Some doctors work very long hours and forget to take care of themselves.
A doctor named Dr. K. Krishna Prabhakar wants to change that.
He says looking after your own health is part of a doctor's job, not something selfish.
He tells doctors to walk between wards, take the stairs, and stretch instead of sitting all day.
He says moving for 150 to 300 minutes each week keeps the heart and muscles strong.
He also tells doctors to eat healthy food like vegetables, fruits, nuts, whole grains, and protein.
He says doctors need good sleep, hobbies, time with family, and help when they feel stressed.
A calm and healthy mind helps doctors think clearly and make safer decisions.
Dr. Prabhakar says the first patient every doctor must care for is themselves.
Dr. K. Krishna Prabhakar, Director of Internal Medicine at Renova Century Hospitals, says doctors' wellbeing is a professional responsibility, not a luxury.
He recommends 150 to 300 minutes of moderate physical activity weekly, plus strength training at least twice a week.
He advises a quality-focused diet rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, pulses, nuts, healthy fats, and protein.
He stresses that mental wellbeing, including good sleep, family time, hobbies, and seeking support, is vital for safer clinical decisions.
He cites Hippocrates, Sir William Osler, and Mahatma Gandhi to argue that healthy doctors inspire trust and provide better care.
- Who
- Dr. K. Krishna Prabhakar, Director of the Department of Internal Medicine at Renova Century Hospitals
- What
- An appeal for doctors to prioritize their own physical and mental health as part of their professional duty
- When
- Not specified in the article
- Where
- Renova Century Hospitals (specific location not stated)
- Why
- Because a doctor's wellbeing is inseparable from the quality of care they provide, and healthy physicians make better clinical decisions
- Key figure
- Dr. K. Krishna Prabhakar
- Role
- Director, Department of Internal Medicine, Renova Century Hospitals
- Weekly exercise recommendation
- 150-300 minutes of moderate physical activity
- Strength training recommendation
- At least twice weekly
- Recommended diet
- Vegetables, fruits, whole grains, pulses, nuts, healthy fats, protein
- Mental health advice
- Good sleep, regular exercise, family time, hobbies, seeking support
- Core message
- "The first patient every doctor must care for is themselves."
- Quotes referenced
- Hippocrates, Sir William Osler, Mahatma Gandhi