Allegations of Ragging and 36-Hour Shifts at Bundelkhand Medical College Spotlight Systemic Risks to Young Doctors’ Health

First-year MBBS students and postgraduate (PG) trainees at Bundelkhand Medical College (BMC) in Sagar, Madhya Pradesh, have alleged a pattern of humiliating ragging, physical abuse, unsafe living conditions, and exhausting 32–36 hour duty shifts that they say are harming their physical and mental health. The allegations, originally reported in Indian media, include a “third-button rule,” beatings, enforced dress codes, and extreme sleep deprivation during continuous hospital duties, raising serious questions about student safety, workplace violence, and training culture in Indian medical colleges.​

Allegations from inside the campus

Junior MBBS students have described a rigid hierarchy in the hostel, where seniors allegedly force freshers to walk with their gaze fixed on the “third button” of their shirt or on their shoes for the first six months, punish them for looking up, and require them to wear the same clothes for extended periods. Students say that violations can reportedly result in being slapped dozens of times and that entire batches may be punished if one student is perceived to have erred.t​

The complaints also describe late-night “line-ups” where juniors are allegedly called, often after seniors have been drinking, and made to stand until 4–5 a.m., answer rapid-fire questions, or perform physical tasks, with beatings if they fail. Some students have alleged physical injuries, including ear-related trauma, though these incidents are said to remain largely confined within hostel walls due to fear of retaliation.​

Living conditions and long duty hours

In addition to ragging, some BMC residents have reported unclean hostel and hospital environments, including mess areas where stray dogs allegedly access leftover food on the same plates used by students, raising concerns about infection risks. Junior doctors also allege 32–36 hour continuous shifts during which they manage emergencies, deal with distressed relatives, and shoulder major clinical responsibility while senior consultants leave after outpatient hours.​

Female PG trainees reportedly face these stretches even during menstruation, often without reliable access to clean, functional washrooms, with one student describing shared toilets used by PGs, nursing staff, guards, and other workers as “unbearable” and chronically unhygienic. Such conditions can worsen fatigue, increase infection risk, and erode dignity at work, particularly for women in already male-dominated environments.Ragging in medical colleges: a wider pattern

Reports from civil society organizations and media indicate that medical colleges across India are disproportionately represented in national ragging data. A recent report by the Society Against Violence in Education (SAVE), summarized by Medical Dialogues and other outlets, found that medical institutions accounted for nearly 39% of total ragging complaints, over 35% of serious cases, and about 45% of ragging-related deaths in a three-year period, despite medical students forming only a small fraction of India’s overall student population.​

Academic work and legal commentary over the past decade have documented that ragging, often framed as “initiation,” can escalate into severe psychological trauma, including anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress, and, in extreme cases, self-harm and suicide. Many victims do not report abuse due to fear of academic retaliation, social isolation, or disbelief by authorities, leading to significant underestimation of the problem.

Health impact of abuse and exploitation

Global health authorities define workplace violence and harassment to include physical, verbal, psychological, and sexual abuse, as well as bullying and coercion by peers and superiors. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that up to 62% of health workers worldwide experience some form of workplace violence, with verbal abuse and bullying especially common, and emphasizes that such violence harms mental health, job satisfaction, and quality of care.​

Ragging and hazing in medical settings represent a form of “horizontal violence” or peer-on-peer abuse that can erode self-esteem, impair concentration, and contribute to sleep problems, substance use, and burnout. When combined with poor living conditions and a culture of silence, these harms can accumulate over years of training and shape how future doctors themselves treat colleagues and juniors, perpetuating a cycle of mistreatment.​

Long shifts and mental health risks

Evidence from multiple countries links long duty hours among junior doctors to higher rates of depression, anxiety, burnout, and suicidal thoughts. A large study of junior doctors in Australia found that working 50 or more hours per week was associated with roughly double the risk of common mental health problems and suicidal ideation compared with those working fewer hours. Similar research has shown that doctors working 70 or more hours weekly are significantly more likely to report depressive symptoms than those with more moderate schedules.​

Systematic reviews of workplace stress in doctors highlight long working hours, overnight and weekend shifts, inadequate staffing, and poor work–life balance as major, modifiable contributors to psychological distress. For resident doctors and PG trainees, chronic sleep deprivation can impair decision-making, increase medical errors, and raise the risk of road traffic accidents when commuting after long duty periods.​

Gendered burdens and menstrual health

For women doctors, especially residents, extended shifts intersect with menstrual health needs, pregnancy, and caregiving responsibilities at home. Studies on healthcare workers show that younger staff and those on frequent night shifts report higher levels of stress, bullying, and psychological symptoms, often without adequate institutional support. Inadequate toilets, lack of privacy, and limited access to menstrual products or rest breaks can worsen menstrual pain and increase the risk of infections, further compounding fatigue and mental strain.​

Person-first, gender-sensitive workplace policies—such as guaranteed access to clean, gender-specific washrooms, predictable rest breaks, and accommodations during severe menstrual symptoms—are increasingly recognized as essential elements of safe working environments in healthcare.​

Calls for counseling and systemic reform

In response to the allegations at BMC, representatives of junior doctors in Madhya Pradesh have reportedly called for immediate reforms, including establishing counseling cells in every medical college and making periodic, confidential mental health check-ins mandatory for students and trainees. Mental health researchers in India have similarly urged medical colleges and teaching hospitals to adopt structured screening for depression and anxiety among trainees, backed by stigma-free counseling, peer support groups, and clear referral pathways.​

International studies suggest that interventions such as regulating maximum weekly work hours, ensuring protected time off between shifts, creating anonymous channels for reporting bullying or violence, and training faculty to recognize distress can help reduce occupational stress and improve retention of healthcare workers. Transparent enforcement of anti-ragging policies, with protections for whistleblowers, is also critical to preventing further harm.​

What this means for patients and the public

Abusive training environments and unsafe work schedules do not only harm students and junior doctors; they can also indirectly affect patient safety and the quality of care. Exhausted, fearful, or demoralized trainees may be more prone to errors, slower to escalate concerns, or less likely to challenge unsafe practices. Conversely, supportive, respectful workplaces have been linked to better communication, lower burnout, and more consistent adherence to clinical guidelines, all of which benefit patients.​

For readers, these reports highlight why protecting the well-being of medical students and junior doctors is not just an “internal” academic issue but a public health priority. Ensuring that those who care for patients are themselves safe, rested, and psychologically supported is foundational to a resilient, trustworthy health system.​

Practical takeaways and next steps

For medical students and junior doctors, experts recommend:

• Knowing institutional anti-ragging and workplace harassment policies and using anonymous or external helplines when internal mechanisms feel unsafe.​

• Seeking early support—from trusted faculty, peers, or mental health professionals—if experiencing persistent low mood, anxiety, sleep problems, or thoughts of self-harm.​

• Documenting incidents of abuse or unsafe working conditions, including dates, times, and witnesses, which can aid formal complaints or legal action if needed.​

For institutions and policymakers, the evidence supports:

• Enforcing zero-tolerance policies on ragging and peer violence in hostels and hospitals, with independent oversight and protection against retaliation.​

• Setting and monitoring safe upper limits on duty hours for trainees, with mandatory rest periods and sufficient staffing to avoid chronic overwork.

• Investing in clean, gender-sensitive hostel and hospital sanitation facilities and integrating mental health services directly into medical campuses.

Ultimately, transforming medical training culture—from one that normalizes humiliation and exhaustion to one that prioritizes dignity, safety, and learning—will require coordinated action from college administrations, state regulators, professional bodies, and student groups alike.​

Medical Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult with qualified healthcare professionals before making any health-related decisions or changes to your treatment plan. The information presented here is based on current research and expert opinions, which may evolve as new evidence emerges.

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