Affidavit cites National Task Force report, says long working hours affect mental well-being, patient safety and academic performance
The National Medical Commission (NMC) has informed the Supreme Court that prolonged and round-the-clock duty schedules are among the leading causes of mental health problems among postgraduate medical students across the country. The Commission stated that excessive working hours not only affect the physical and mental well-being of resident doctors but also compromise patient safety.
The NMC made these submissions through an affidavit in response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking implementation of the 1992 Uniform Residency Scheme for resident doctors.
Referring to the National Task Force (NTF) 2024 report, the Commission stated that the findings clearly established a link between excessive duty hours and deteriorating mental health among postgraduate medical students. According to the report, long working schedules, including multiple 24-hour duties and sometimes three to five consecutive duties, result in physical and mental exhaustion, adversely affecting both performance and health.
The NMC informed the Apex Court that the 1992 Uniform Residency Scheme had been introduced to reduce the burden of excessive working hours. The scheme recommended that resident doctors should generally not work for more than 12 hours of continuous active duty in a day and should not exceed 48 working hours in a week. However, these guidelines could not be implemented due to shortages of human resources and other logistical constraints.
The Commission further referred to the National Task Force’s recommendations, which suggested that, depending on available resources, resident doctors should work no more than 74 hours per week, with no more than 24 hours of continuous duty. The proposed schedule includes one weekly off, one 24-hour duty in a week, and 10-hour shifts for the remaining five days.
The Task Force also stressed that postgraduate students should receive at least seven to eight hours of sleep daily to maintain optimal physical and mental health. It recommended that Heads of Departments, faculty members, senior residents and junior residents jointly prepare duty rosters by dividing work into one, two or three shifts, depending on manpower availability. It also emphasised strict compliance with the NMC’s regulations providing one weekly day off.
The PIL was filed by the United Doctors’ Front (UDF) through Advocates Satyam Singh and Neema, seeking enforcement of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare’s 1992 notification, which limits resident doctors’ duty hours to 12 hours per day and 48 hours per week.
The petition argued that despite clear directions issued over three decades ago, many medical institutions continue to violate the prescribed norms. It also referred to the National Task Force report, which documented more than 150 suicides among medical students over the past five years, with work-related stress and sleep deprivation identified as major contributing factors.
The NMC also clarified before the Supreme Court that while it has taken steps to regulate duty hours and improve the mental well-being of medical students and resident doctors, the responsibility for implementing duty schedules rests with the respective State Governments and medical institutions. The Commission stated that under the National Medical Commission Act, 2019, its primary role is to regulate medical education and maintain academic standards, while the implementation of working conditions lies with the concerned authorities.
