UDF Calls for Action Against Exploitative Work Conditions in Medical Colleges
New Delhi, March 16, 2025: The United Doctors Front (UDF) has reignited the long-standing issue of excessive and inhuman duty hours for Resident Doctors across India. Despite clear guidelines from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) since 1992, medical institutions continue to overwork young doctors, leading to burnout, physical collapse, and fatal errors in patient care.
The Reality: Doctors Pushed Beyond Limits
Under the 1992 Central Residency Scheme, Resident Doctors should not work more than 48 hours per week or more than 12 hours per shift. However, reports suggest that many hospitals flout these regulations, forcing doctors into shifts lasting over 36 hours.
The tipping point came with the tragic case of a female Resident Doctor at RG Kar Medical College, Kolkata, who was raped and murdered after an exhausting 36-hour duty. Even the Supreme Court has labeled such work conditions as “inhuman”, yet enforcement remains weak.
UDF’s Key Demands
The UDF has outlined five urgent reforms to rectify the situation:
Strict implementation of the 1992 MoHFW guidelines.
Mandatory annual affidavits from medical institutions to the National Medical Commission (NMC) confirming compliance.
Public display of duty-hour rules in every medical college.
Strict penalties for institutions violating the regulations.
Accountability mechanisms to ensure enforcement.
“We have formally approached the PMO, NHRC, and State Authorities to intervene immediately,” said Dr. Lakshya Mittal, National President, UDF.
Doctors Fight Back Online
Tired of institutional neglect, Resident Doctors have taken their protest to social media, launching a digital movement with hashtags:
#StopDoctorExploitation #FixDutyHours #DoctorsAreNotMachines
With pressure mounting, the question remains: Will authorities finally act to protect the country’s young doctors?
