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NEW DELHI – April 23, 2025: In what the United Doctors’ Front (UDF) is hailing as a landmark victory, the Central government has agreed to formally cap resident doctors’ duty hours at 48 per week, ending decades of ambiguity and potentially transforming working conditions for thousands of medical professionals across India.
The breakthrough occurred during a crucial meeting held on Tuesday, April 22, between representatives of the UDF and the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). The Centre consented to replace the long-contested phrase “reasonable duty hours” in the Central Residency Scheme of 1992 with a specific limit of “48 hours per week.”
“This is a major step toward ensuring uniform working hours across all government and private medical colleges,” the UDF announced in an official statement following the meeting.
Dr. Lakshya Mittal, National President of the UDF, expressed cautious optimism. “It took decades, but they finally listened,” he said, speaking to EdexLive. He highlighted that while regulations existed on paper since 1992, their enforcement has been inconsistent. “The issue is about accountability,” Dr. Mittal stated. “We asked them who is responsible for implementation… we suggested proper auditing every three or six months, and we’ve requested them to start that soon.”
Describing the meeting as yielding a “positive response,” Dr. Mittal elaborated on the discussions: “It took a lot of effort to even open the talks on these rules. There was a lot of debate on the term ‘reasonable working hours’, and they accepted on the spot that it is wrong. They noted it down and agreed to change it.”
Beyond the crucial agreement on working hours, the UDF also pushed for other reforms. Proposals for the mandatory public display of duty hour directives within medical colleges and the provision of five additional days of family or vacation leave annually were reportedly well-received by the DGHS officials.
Furthermore, the government acknowledged the need to update outdated allowances related to books, thesis preparation, and residency costs, agreeing to revise them to reflect current economic standards.
However, the path to full implementation remains unclear. The DGHS has not yet provided a specific timeline for enforcing these changes or outlined potential punitive measures for institutions that fail to comply. “They mentioned this is a complex process and might need two or three more meetings,” Dr. Mittal added.
Despite the lack of a fixed enforcement date, the agreement represents a significant potential shift. If implemented without undue delay, these changes could mark a historic improvement in the demanding lives of resident doctors nationwide, addressing long-standing grievances over excessive working hours and inadequate support.
Disclaimer: This news article is based on information provided by the United Doctors’ Front regarding a meeting held with the DGHS on April 22, 2025. While the reported agreements signify a potential breakthrough, the final implementation, specific timelines, enforcement mechanisms, and official government notifications are still pending further discussions and decisions.
