Limit duty hours to 12 hour a shift and 48 hours a week, PG doctors in Telangana

Senior residents from across Telangana under the umbrella of Healthcare Reforms Doctors Association (HRDA) on Friday urged the Director of Medical Education (DME), Telangana to implement a uniform policy ensuring that duty hours for resident postgraduate doctors in teaching hospital are limited to a maximum of 12 hours per shift and 48 hours per week, along with a mandatory weekly off.

Resident postgraduate doctors, senior residents, and interns are frequently subjected to prolonged duty hours, often extending to 24 to 36 hours at a stretch, without proper weekly offs in several institutions. Such excessive working hours lead to severe fatigue, mental stress, and burnout, and also have a direct impact on patient safety and quality of care, the members of HRDA



said.

Recently, a circular issued by JIPMER has reiterated that resident doctors should not work beyond 12 hours at a stretch and 48 hours per week, along with provision for a weekly off, HRDA said.

Further, the National Task Force on Mental Health and Well-being of Medical Students (2024) has highlighted that a significant proportion of medical trainees are experiencing stress, burnout, and mental health issues due to excessive workload and lack of adequate rest.

This is not only a matter of doctor welfare but also a matter of maintaining standards in healthcare delivery and medical education. Regulated duty hours are essential to ensure that doctors can function effectively and safely, HRDA in its letter to DME said.