Cap duty hours, ensure rest for resident doctors: Parliamentary panel

NEW DELHI: Flagging risks to patient safety, a Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare has raised concern over “excessive continuous duty hours” for junior and senior resident doctors, warning that fatigue-driven errors and burnout could compromise care.In its latest report, the panel has recommended that the government introduce and strictly enforce a formal “Clinical Duty Hours Regulation” policy. This should mandate fixed rest periods and monitored duty rosters, with oversight mechanisms to prevent violations.Drawing a parallel with aviation safety norms, the committee said healthcare must adopt similar fatigue management standards to reduce the risk of errors. “Safety-critical professions like civil aviation enforce strict duty hours to prevent fatigue-induced accidents,” the report noted, arguing that patient care demands comparable safeguards. The recommendation comes amid growing concern over long, unregulated shifts in teaching hospitals, where residents often work extended hours with limited rest. The panel warned that such conditions not only increase the likelihood of clinical mistakes but also contribute to burnout and mental health stress among young doctors.The issue has also been flagged by doctors’ groups. In a representation to the health ministry, the United Doctors Front (UDF) pointed out that existing norms under the Uniform Residency Scheme, 1992 already cap work at 48 hours a week and not more than 12 hours per shift, but these are widely flouted across institutions. The group has urged the government to issue binding instructions and create accountability mechanisms, including a high-level review to align medical duty hours with global safety standards.The committee’s observations gain urgency against the backdrop of rising concern over mental health issues among medical students and residents, with recent reports highlighting high stress levels and burnout.The panel has made it clear that regulating doctors’ duty hours is not just a labour issue but a patient safety imperative, and called for enforceable, monitored standards rather than advisory norms.