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NEW DELHI – In a move that could reshape the landscape of medical education in India, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued an urgent notice to the National Medical Commission (NMC) and the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The intervention targets the grueling 24- to 72-hour shifts imposed on postgraduate (PG) medical students, with a specific focus on the “serious violations of human rights” faced by doctors with disabilities (PwD).
The NHRC has demanded an Action Taken Report (ATR) within two weeks, following a formal complaint alleging that these marathon shifts are not only a breach of labor dignity but a direct violation of established statutory protections.
The Breaking Point: 72-Hour Shifts and Systemic Neglect
The catalyst for this intervention was a detailed complaint filed by the United Doctors Front (UDF). Led by chairperson Dr. Lakshya Mittal, the UDF highlighted a harrowing reality within Indian medical colleges: junior residents, particularly those in the PwD category, are frequently forced to work up to three days straight without sleep or a weekly off.
“The excessive workload has reportedly led to severe mental and physical stress, suicides, and dropouts among students,” Dr. Mittal stated in the complaint. He further emphasized that PwD students are “disproportionately affected due to a lack of reasonable accommodation, poor infrastructure, and weak grievance mechanisms.”
For a resident with physical disabilities, a 72-hour shift is more than an endurance test; it is an environment where physical barriers—such as lack of accessible restrooms or resting areas—become insurmountable obstacles, exacerbating social stigma and physical deterioration.
A Legacy of Non-Compliance
The irony of the current crisis lies in the fact that regulations to prevent such exhaustion have existed for over three decades.
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The 1992 Uniform Central Residency Scheme: Prompted by a Supreme Court directive, this scheme strictly limits junior residents to 48 hours of work per week. It mandates that continuous duty should not exceed 12 hours and requires a mandatory weekly off.
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PGMER 2023: The Post Graduate Medical Education Regulations (PGMER) 2023 explicitly mandate “reasonable working hours and reasonable time for rest.”
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RPwD Act 2016: The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act requires “reasonable accommodations” and strictly prohibits discrimination in the workplace.
Despite these legal frameworks, the UDF claims that many medical colleges operate in a state of “defiance,” with residents routinely clocking 70 to 90 hours weekly.
Expert Perspectives: The Cost of Fatigue
The implications of sleep-deprived doctors extend far beyond the well-being of the trainees; they directly impact patient safety.
Dr. Veena Kumari, a psychiatrist at AIIMS who has studied the mental health of residents, notes that the biological limits of the human brain cannot be ignored. “Extended shifts lead to chronic sleep deprivation, impairing cognitive function and increasing error risks,” says Dr. Kumari. “This is doubly dangerous for PwD doctors who may already be facing accessibility hurdles. Evidence from global studies shows fatigue contributes to 20–30% of medical errors.”
The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has echoed these concerns, pointing to the 2024 NMC National Task Force report. That report, chaired by Dr. B.M. Suresh of NIMHANS, explicitly linked these excessive hours to a rising tide of clinical depression and suicidal ideation among the nation’s medical trainees.
Public Health Implications: A Crisis of Care
The NHRC’s intervention highlights a critical public health paradox: the very system designed to heal is breaking the people providing the care.
1. Patient Safety
In high-stakes environments like Intensive Care Units (ICUs) or emergency wards, a split-second decision can be the difference between life and death. A doctor working their 60th hour is cognitively equivalent to someone who is legally intoxicated. The risk of surgical errors and medication mishaps skyrockets under these conditions.
2. The Physician Shortage
India currently maintains a ratio of approximately one doctor per 1,000 people, hovering near the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommended minimum. By creating an environment that encourages dropouts and mental health crises, the current system worsens the existing shortage.
3. Diversity and Inclusion
With PwD candidates making up roughly 5% of PG seats nationwide, thousands of doctors are currently at risk. If the medical field becomes inaccessible to those with disabilities due to “cruel duty hours,” the healthcare system loses diverse talent and perspectives that are vital for empathetic patient care.
Counterpoints and the Road Ahead
Some administrators in the medical community have historically argued that long hours are a “rite of passage” that builds clinical resilience. They also point to the reality of understaffed rural hospitals, where a strict 12-hour cap might lead to service disruptions.
However, modern medical consensus is shifting. Global bodies, such as the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) in the United States, have capped duties at 80 hours per week. Studies following these changes showed a 25% reduction in burnout without a decline in the quality of surgical training.
The NHRC’s push suggests that “resilience” should not be built through human rights violations. The solution, advocates argue, lies in systemic fixes: hiring more medical staff, improving hospital infrastructure, and strictly enforcing the 1992 Residency Scheme.
Conclusion: A Moment for Reform
The two-week deadline for the Action Taken Report marks a pivotal moment for the Ministry of Health and the NMC. As the medical community awaits their response, the focus remains on whether the “backbone of the hospital”—the PG resident—will finally receive the protections promised to them by law.
For the general public, this is a reminder that the quality of care they receive is inextricably linked to the health of those providing it. A rested doctor is not just a more humane outcome; it is a clinical necessity.
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.
References
1. Primary Sources & Complaints
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United Doctors Front (UDF) complaint to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), as reported by The Print, April 22, 2026.
