Resident doctors warn of burnout, patient safety risks, and systemic collapse if round-the-clock OPD is implemented without reforms
Resident doctors at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, have strongly opposed a Parliamentary Committee’s recommendation to introduce 24-hour OPD services, calling the move “inhumane” and a “blatant violation of basic labour rights.” The doctors argue that the proposal ignores the ground realities of India’s already overburdened public healthcare system.
Parliamentary Panel Recommends Round-the-Clock OPD
The Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare, in its 171st report submitted on March 18, 2026, suggested exploring the possibility of running OPD services round the clock at AIIMS, New Delhi.
The panel reasoned that night-time OPDs could help reduce overcrowding and improve patient access to healthcare. It proposed a rotational duty system for doctors and staff, comparing the concept to continuous operations in sectors like aviation and railways.
Resident Doctors Reject Proposal
The Resident Doctors Association (RDA) AIIMS categorically rejected the recommendation, stating that while improving accessibility is important, the proposal is disconnected from operational realities.
Doctors highlighted that international labour standards prescribe a 48-hour work week, whereas resident doctors in India often work between 80 to 100 hours weekly. Extending OPD hours without reducing workload would worsen burnout, depression, and attrition in the profession.
Severe Staff Shortage and Infrastructure Gaps
The RDA pointed out that a 24-hour OPD system would require a robust three-shift workforce, including doctors, nurses, paramedics, lab technicians, and administrative staff. However, government hospitals are already facing massive staff shortages.
Without large-scale recruitment, the association warned of “ghost clinics” where exhausted junior doctors may be forced to deliver suboptimal care, compromising treatment quality.
Overcrowding Rooted in Weak Primary Healthcare
Doctors emphasized that overcrowding at tertiary hospitals like AIIMS is a symptom of a failing primary healthcare system. Patients often travel long distances for minor ailments due to under-resourced local facilities.
According to the RDA, simply extending OPD hours will not solve congestion but instead attract more non-emergency cases, further burdening specialized centers.
Patient Safety and Security Concerns
Medical experts also raised serious concerns about patient safety. Sleep deprivation among doctors can impair clinical judgment, increasing the risk of medical errors.
Additionally, the lack of adequate security infrastructure during late-night hours could expose healthcare workers to workplace violence, creating a hazardous environment for both doctors and patients.
Medical Bodies Extend Support
The United Doctors Front (UDF) supported the AIIMS residents, stressing that existing duty hour regulations, including the 48-hour work week, are not being implemented effectively.
UDF Chairperson Dr. Lakshya Mittal called for an audit of duty hours across AIIMS centres and demanded accountability before introducing new policies.
Similarly, the Democratic Medical Association (DMA India) termed the proposal impractical and dangerous. Its leadership warned that without systemic reforms, increased workload and sleep deprivation could lead to serious medical errors.
Call for Systemic Reforms First
Medical associations have urged the government to withdraw the proposal and instead focus on strengthening primary healthcare, improving referral systems, and filling vacant posts in hospitals.
They also demanded strict enforcement of duty hour regulations under the Central Residency Scheme, 1992, stating that expanding services without fixing foundational issues could harm both doctors and patients.
