Yeah, that's why I always stock up on Doctor bags or Hydras. It's even better when you expose yourself to radiation, esp. early on in the game when RadAways are hard to come by (and are still relatively expensive)- you'll frantically start looking for a doctor.
11 hours in, hardcoe, very hard, 15 doctors bags lots of stims, 3000 caps, i can take out armies, and radaways are everywhere (traders), never once used a doctor since I can mostly anything without taking too much damage (sad thing, the game is too easy)