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Junior resident doctors at two of India’s leading medical institutions—AIIMS Bhubaneswar and AFMC Pune—are being forced to work continuous shifts lasting up to 36 hours, in direct violation of national guidelines, according to recent Right to Information (RTI) responses and allegations raised by the United Doctors Front (UDF).
Violation of Duty Hour Regulations
The Uniform Residency Scheme of 1992 and the Postgraduate Medical Education Regulations (PGMER) 2023 clearly stipulate that junior residents should not exceed 12 hours of continuous duty per day and 48 hours per week, with adequate rest periods to safeguard their physical and mental health. Despite these regulations, RTI responses have confirmed that junior doctors at AIIMS Bhubaneswar, AIIMS Bibinagar, and AFMC Pune are regularly assigned shifts extending from 24 to 36 hours, sometimes multiple times per week.
Systemic Negligence and Health Risks
Dr. Lakshya Mittal, National President of the UDF, has formally written to the National Medical Commission (NMC) and the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), urging immediate investigation and disciplinary action against those responsible for enforcing these excessive working hours. Dr. Mittal emphasized that such practices not only flout existing laws but also endanger the well-being of doctors and compromise patient safety.
“This is not just a matter of administrative failure—it’s a question of human rights, mental health, and patient safety. The system’s inefficiencies cannot come at the cost of young doctors’ well-being,” Dr. Mittal stated in his letter.
RTI Findings Highlight Widespread Breach
The RTI data revealed that in departments such as General Medicine and Anaesthesiology, junior residents are scheduled for 24- to 36-hour shifts several times a month. In some cases, these extended shifts are justified by the workload and patient volume, but the practice remains in clear breach of both the Uniform Residency Scheme and NMC guidelines.
Call for Reform and Accountability
The UDF has demanded that the NMC and DGHS:
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Initiate a fact-finding investigation into current duty hour policies.
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Take strict disciplinary action against officials responsible for violations.
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Ensure immediate compliance with the Uniform Residency Scheme and PGMER guidelines.
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Issue a nationwide advisory reiterating the legal and ethical mandate to comply with prescribed duty hours.
The government has previously discussed reforms to fix resident doctors’ duty hours at 48 hours per week, a change long advocated by medical professionals. However, no final decision has yet been made.
Disclaimer:
This article is based on information available from RTI responses and statements by the United Doctors Front, as reported by Medical Dialogues and other sources. The allegations and data cited are subject to verification by the relevant authorities. Readers are advised to consult official updates from the National Medical Commission and Directorate General of Health Services for the latest developments.
