Parliamentary Panel Flags Excessive Duty Hours For Resident Doctors, Calls For A National Protocol

Echoing long-standing concerns raised by resident doctors, a Parliamentary Committee has flagged excessive duty hours at AIIMS New Delhi and called for the formulation of a standard national protocol to regulate working conditions.

In 2024, the Supreme Court of India had also taken note of the issue, describing the grueling working conditions of resident doctors as “inhuman.” It had constituted a 10-member National Task Force (NTF) to streamline and regulate duty hours of medical professionals across the country.

However, with the Parliamentary panel once again flagging the issue, it appears that little progress has been made in addressing the concerns of resident doctors.

In its report tabled in Parliament recently, the panel observed that junior residents are frequently required to work far beyond the prescribed limits, leading to stress, fatigue, and possible implications for patient care. The issue, it noted, has been raised repeatedly over the years but continues to persist due to heavy workloads and chronic staff shortages.

As per the Government of India Residency Scheme of 1992, duty hours are clearly defined. Junior residents are expected to work around 48 hours per week, with continuous duty not exceeding 12 hours at a stretch. They are entitled to a weekly off, and on-call duty is capped at 12 hours. Similar provisions apply to senior residents, although actual working hours often vary depending on departmental workload.

However, submissions made before the Committee by the Resident Doctors Association suggested a stark gap between policy and practice. Resident doctors reported working up to 36 hours continuously—three times the prescribed limit. Such extended hours, driven largely by service demands in high-volume public hospitals, have become routine rather than exceptional, noted the panel.

The Committee, chaired by MP Prof. Ram Gopal Yadav, expressed concern that such conditions adversely affect the physical and mental well-being of young doctors. It also noted that excessive duty hours can diminish academic performance and potentially compromise the quality of patient care. Stress and burnout among residents, the panel indicated, are becoming increasingly visible.

The findings assume significance in the broader context of India’s public healthcare system, where resident doctors serve as the backbone of hospital services. They often balance demanding clinical responsibilities with academic commitments, including examinations and thesis submissions.

The Resident Doctors Association also highlighted that the pressure intensifies during examination periods, when residents struggle to manage long duty hours alongside preparation. To address this, the Association proposed the introduction of preparatory leave of up to six months for final-year residents. It also suggested temporary recruitment of additional doctors to ensure that clinical services are not disrupted during such periods.

Taking note of these submissions, the Committee has recommended the Government for strict enforcement of existing norms. It has also called upon the AIIMS administration to ensure that duty hours do not exceed prescribed limits under the Residency Scheme.

The panel has also proposed the formulation of an institutional policy to regulate and cap consecutive duty hours. In addition, it has suggested introducing a system of voluntary extra-duty shifts, with appropriate financial compensation, to manage peak workloads without overburdening residents.

In a key recommendation, the Committee has urged the development of a standard protocol on duty hours for both junior and senior residents, to be adopted across medical institutions in the country. Such a framework, it noted, would bring uniformity and ensure adherence to safe and humane working conditions.

Beyond immediate measures, the panel has called for structural reforms to address the underlying causes of overwork. These include fast-tracking recruitment to fill vacancies, improving infrastructure, and expanding residential facilities to reduce pressure on existing staff.

The Committee has also recommended structured career pathways with defined incentives, mentorship programs for early-career doctors, and greater autonomy in human resource decisions. It emphasized the need to align workforce planning with national healthcare priorities to ensure better distribution of medical personnel.

Underscoring the critical role of resident doctors, the panel noted that they often compensate for infrastructure and manpower gaps within the system. Ensuring their well-being, it said, is essential not only for their professional growth but also for maintaining the quality and safety of patient care.

While the recommendations outline a comprehensive roadmap, their implementation remains crucial. For thousands of resident doctors across India, long and exhausting duty hours continue to be the norm.

As Rohan Krishnan, Patron of the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA), observed, the issue requires urgent attention, as sustained overwork risks affecting both doctors and the healthcare system at large.

In fact, last year, in a significant step to address the rising mental health concerns among medical professionals, the FAIMA launched a toll-free Mental Health Redressal Helpline (MHRH) for doctors and medical students across the country. The initiative seeks to offer free, confidential support to those dealing with stress, burnout, and emotional distress, providing a much-needed safety net within the healthcare community.